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ExerVision


HSW3ET

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I don't know if this has already been posted here... if not yet... here it is. 🙃

 

ExerVision

 

At first it seems like "something true".

Don't you think so?

 

PS: I remember seeing a cartridge with a homemade style label a couple of years ago.

 

 

 

ExerVision - 01.jpg

ExerVision - 02.jpg

Edited by HSW3ET
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Intersting.

The board is a standard Atari one, modified to accept a 2732 eprom (there should be jumpers, cut traces and an inverter on the other side). Also the eprom is soldered and not socketed. Quite odd for a prototype, I think.

It reminds me the description of some of the proposed software for the "puffer", in particular the "Exercise-To-Your-Par" one mentioned in the "puffer ideas" memo:

 

ideas2.jpg.9391a28871d7fdfaea04ab15f7bafb97.jpg

 

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2 hours ago, alex_79 said:

The board is a standard Atari one, modified to accept a 2732 eprom (there should be jumpers, cut traces and an inverter on the other side). Also the eprom is soldered and not socketed.

Yes! 👍


Not functional... and fixed:

 

ExerVision - 04.jpg

ExerVision - 03.jpg

Edited by HSW3ET
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6 hours ago, alex_79 said:

Is that the only screen? Does it react to a joystick (e.g. fast tapping the fire button, or moving the stick) or console switches?

We're still trying to figure that out.  So far it appears that there's only the one screen.  You can get some of the stats to change by pushing the second player joystick in certain ways (up seems to change the BPM).  Obviously this was supposed to be connected to a special bike or an interface for a bike (connected to the left joystick port we think), and without that it's hard to figure out how this was supposed to work.

 

BTW this isn't a hoax, this is a real prototype.  We're still not sure if it actually went into production or not though.

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Amazing what continues to pop up after all this time. I imagine maybe a couple of different interfaces for this exercise cart. One that wraps around your wrist to measure BPM heart rate (with simulated cardiogram display on the bottom) and another going to the bike that measures RPM, MPH, distance, etc. Pretty fancy if so!

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1 hour ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

The up pin seems to be only one used. So there must be a way to switch from BPM to something else.

 

Also I haven't found out yet, what the different selectable curves at the bottom are meant for.

 

Using a paddle I was able to get the square at the bottom of the screen to move slightly after you start the game. My theory is the curved "course" is the amount of speed you have to go to move down the path to the end. Example, faster for higher point on the screen and then slower. Sort of like a simulated bike course on a Peloton or something.

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13 hours ago, Tempest said:

BTW this isn't a hoax, this is a real prototype.  We're still not sure if it actually went into production or not though.


Just wanted to say for the record that while I trust that the rom data (software) of this game is indeed from a real proto, (your word is always more than good enough for me), the cart itself (hardware) is very suspect. I mean, it’s obviously quick shoddy work thrown together by someone who was limited to a standard production board.

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7 hours ago, Supergun said:


 the cart itself (hardware) is very suspect. I mean, it’s obviously quick shoddy work thrown together by someone who was limited to a standard production board.

It was a very small operation (two guys) and I get the feeling that they were basically working out of a garage.  That would explain the jankyness of the whole thing.

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8 minutes ago, Tempest said:

It was a very small operation (two guys) and I get the feeling that they were basically working out of a garage.  That would explain the jankyness of the whole thing.

That makes sense.

The fact that the eprom was soldered, with even the shield installed, makes me think it's the final version. During development they would likely have used a board with a socket.

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5 hours ago, Tempest said:

Here are pictures of the label.  Underneath the 'production label' is a prototype label which is interesting.

 

 

biketrainer_proto_1.jpg

biketrainer_proto_2.jpg

Well, it's not really a prototype label. It's just a sticker over a regular Video Chess label. But it does provide a date at least. 

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2 hours ago, cx2k said:

Well, it's not really a prototype label. It's just a sticker over a regular Video Chess label. But it does provide a date at least. 

Well they obviously didn't have special proto labels being two guys in a garage but to me it counts. :)

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After having a closer look into the code, I am pretty sure we found out everything.

 

One thing which wonders me is, that the values are not updated immediately, but in different intervals. E.g. BPM every 10 seconds, MPH every ~3.33 seconds (200 frames), RPM every ~3.27 seconds (196 frames), TOT every 0.6 seconds (36 frames). Did they just chose different values to make everything look more sophisticated and scientific? Or is there some logic behind this?

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46 minutes ago, Thomas Jentzsch said:

After having a closer look into the code, I am pretty sure we found out everything.

 

One thing which wonders me is, that the values are not updated immediately, but in different intervals. E.g. BPM every 10 seconds, MPH every ~3.33 seconds (200 frames), RPM every ~3.27 seconds (196 frames), TOT every 0.6 seconds (36 frames). Did they just chose different values to make everything look more sophisticated and scientific? Or is there some logic behind this?

So it doesnt look like a finished product then?  More like a Proof of Concept demo?

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18 hours ago, Tempest said:

So it doesnt look like a finished product then?  More like a Proof of Concept demo?

Did I indicate that? That was not my intention.

 

Actually I am not sure how finished it is. After all there is plenty of space left. Probably one could have added some extras (e.g. different lengths, sounds or a title screen). The more I think about it, the more it looks like a (functional) prototype.

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Try using driving controllers not paddles, it should approximate the sensors better. Also make  pretend you are playing a moderate 'track and field' race on the joystick inputs as well as fire button, both as pot and stick. Spin wiggle fire. Puff Puff Puff, bionic men and women. Using a splitter will allow all inputs to be used at once.

Edited by _The Doctor__
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