HSW3ET Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 (edited) 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. Edited July 9, 2023 by HSW3ET 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted July 9, 2023 Share Posted July 9, 2023 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: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSW3ET Posted July 9, 2023 Author Share Posted July 9, 2023 (edited) 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: Edited July 9, 2023 by HSW3ET 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cx2k Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 The original problem was a bad 74LS04 which prevented a good dump. In addition, the eprom has a shield over the chip. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 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. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 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! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) Yes, I think the BPM is one line and the RPM (and resulting values) are coming from the other line. And I think the curves at the bottom are speed curves which have to be met. Edited July 10, 2023 by Thomas Jentzsch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cx2k Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 10, 2023 Share Posted July 10, 2023 (edited) 51 minutes ago, cx2k said: Sort of like a simulated bike course on a Peloton or something. Yes, though ExerVision is only known for indoor rowing races software. Edited July 10, 2023 by Thomas Jentzsch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 Weird. Never heard of this one before. It reminds me a bit of the Health Cycle Program from Exus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_79 Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 Here are pictures of the label. Underneath the 'production label' is a prototype label which is interesting. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cx2k Posted July 11, 2023 Share Posted July 11, 2023 5 hours ago, Tempest said: Here are pictures of the label. Underneath the 'production label' is a prototype label which is interesting. 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supergun Posted July 12, 2023 Share Posted July 12, 2023 The uncovered date is interesting indeed. I mean, 1985, geez, the 2600 was dead as a door nail. These guys were SERIOUSLY late to the party! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSW3ET Posted July 13, 2023 Author Share Posted July 13, 2023 The date on the EPROM also matches. ( 34th week of 1984 ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted July 13, 2023 Share Posted July 13, 2023 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? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted July 14, 2023 Share Posted July 14, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 (edited) 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 July 17, 2023 by _The Doctor__ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted October 10, 2023 Share Posted October 10, 2023 I put up a page about Bicycle Trainer on my site if anyone is interested: http://www.atariprotos.com/2600/software/biketrainer/biketrainer.htm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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