Albert Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 I'd really like to see the internals of that 7800 adapter. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 OMFG that is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing that. I can't wait to see 7800 fractalus and would love the opportunity to buy it and the computer keyboard :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Wow! I mean, REALLY WOW! I'm totally floored by the 5200 module and the 'Rescue On Fractalus' proto. Kurt, please let us know some more details about both of them. I assume that the description of "working" for the 5200 module means that it will actually run 7800 games on a 5200 system? Amazing! I am guessing that there would pretty much have to be an almost complete 7800 stuffed inside of the thing and the 5200 hardware would be used simply for the video/audio output? Would you use 5200 or ProLine controllers for the thing? It just boggles the mind! As for 'Rescue On Fractalus', how complete is it? Is it even playable? What do the graphics look like? This is really exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tomlin Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 It's gotta go somewhere. Sounds good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted August 6, 2004 Author Share Posted August 6, 2004 Wow! I mean, REALLY WOW! I'm totally floored by the 5200 module and the 'Rescue On Fractalus' proto. Kurt, please let us know some more details about both of them. I assume that the description of "working" for the 5200 module means that it will actually run 7800 games on a 5200 system? Amazing! I am guessing that there would pretty much have to be an almost complete 7800 stuffed inside of the thing and the 5200 hardware would be used simply for the video/audio output? Would you use 5200 or ProLine controllers for the thing? It just boggles the mind! As for 'Rescue On Fractalus', how complete is it? Is it even playable? What do the graphics look like? This is really exciting! Hi Stan, The module is exactly the same type as the CX-55 Atari 2600 adapter, basically its an entire 7800 board in box, you plug in a 7800 joystick into it and a 7800 cart and you're good to go. Rescue on Fractalus is a working demo, you can fly around, the displays are rotating info, you can't fire and there is no sound... just working out some issues with the emulation version, will get it out very soon for everyone.... Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tomlin Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Wow! I mean, REALLY WOW!I assume that the description of "working" for the 5200 module means that it will actually run 7800 games on a 5200 system? Amazing! I am guessing that there would pretty much have to be an almost complete 7800 stuffed If it's built like the schematics, it doesn't have a ROM, so you have to flip a switch to select 2600 vs 7800 mode. Either way, it's still a "parasite" module, just using the base for power in and A/V out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 I guess that kills the rumor that Rescue on Fractulus used a Pokey chip. Unless, of course, they planned to add it later. Too bad it wasn't a completed game, but it will still be nice to check out though. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+-^CrossBow^- Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Maybe Curt's doesn't have sound because the pokey is missing on the proto? Just a thought... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Tomlin Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 If it's "missing", where does it go? He has a picture of the wire wrap board, and it's two ROM chips, a RAM chip, and a TTL chip. No sign of any room for a Pokey. Although I have been thinking of the possibility that there may have been a different dev board with a Pokey (since I've heard most 7800 development was done with RAM carts and/or EPROM emulation), why wouldn't this one have it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 I was just looking at the pictures again and now I'm wondering. Are the two Atari Lab modules (temperature and light) both on the same cart? I know that the Atari 800 versions are seperate but I couldn't really tell for sure on the 7800 versions. Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Rescue on Fractalus is a working demo, you can fly around, the displays are rotating info, you can't fire and there is no sound... just working out some issues with the emulation version, will get it out very soon for everyone.... This begs for some screenshots while you're working on it. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 i second the screenshot notion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 I was just looking at the VCS Cartridge Adapter for the 5200 and noticed that the 7800 Adapter doesn't have the Select and Reset switches on the front. Are they on the side or in the back? Are they there at all? Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted August 9, 2004 Author Share Posted August 9, 2004 I was just looking at the VCS Cartridge Adapter for the 5200 and noticed that the 7800 Adapter doesn't have the Select and Reset switches on the front. Are they on the side or in the back? Are they there at all? Allan There are push buttons on the top to select those items as well as a 2600/7800 mode switch. Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted August 9, 2004 Author Share Posted August 9, 2004 i second the screenshot notion. Will get some screen shots posted tomorrow of the programs... Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Vendel Posted August 9, 2004 Author Share Posted August 9, 2004 Atari 7800 Atarilab Light Module App: Atari 7800 Atarilab Temp Module App: Atari 7800 Rescue on Fractalus: Rescue appears to be a fairly well along game, though I'd estimate it was about 60% done, firing doesn't work, nor have I found a way to land, you start off above the planet instead of the launch from the docking bay and down to the planet surface... you can hit the mountains, steer and pick up craft below, there is an issue with a band across the front cockpit area, this may be due to MESS not knowing how to deal with the games need for an extra 2K of sram (perhaps...) Will get these games released shortly, plus some others. Curt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPUWIZ Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Very cool Curt, cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Kay Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Mama Mia! Curt - you are the best! Was Rescue on Fractalus in Atari's hands... if so, I wonder why they didn't complete it for 87 or 88? Cheers! Joey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Great screenshots, thanks! Too bad Rescue on Fractalus isn't further along, but it's still very cool to see a work-in-progress. ..Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Nice! So am I correct in assuming that the lab modules don't require the keyboard? Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 For Rescue on Fractalus can you turn on the setting in the A78 header for the 8K of memory or is that in the wrong address range? Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dutchman2000 Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Mitch- Can you elaborate on that? I've never seen the A78 header explained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mitch Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Mitch- Can you elaborate on that? I've never seen the A78 header explained. Here you go. /* Header format 0 Header version - 1 byte 1..16 "ATARI7800 " - 16 bytes 17..48 Cart title - 32 bytes 49..52 data length - 4 bytes 53..54 cart type - 2 bytes bit 0 0x01 - pokey cart bit 1 0x02 - supercart bank switched bit 2 0x04 - supercart RAM at $4000 bit 3 0x08 - additional ROM at $4000 bit 8-15 - Special 0 = Normal cart 1 = Absolute (F18 Hornet) 2 = Activision 55 controller 1 type - 1 byte 56 controller 2 type - 1 byte 0 = None 1 = Joystick 2 = Light Gun 57 0 = NTSC/1 = PAL 100..127 "ACTUAL CART DATA STARTS HERE" - 28 bytes Versions: Version 0: Initial release Version 1: Added PAL/NTSC bit. Added Special cart byte. Changed 53 bit 2, added bit 3 */ Mitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godzilla Posted August 10, 2004 Share Posted August 10, 2004 Thanks Curt! Great stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRedEye Posted August 13, 2004 Share Posted August 13, 2004 From David Fox himself: "The game was originally conceived as purely a rescue mission (hence one of its working titles, Rescue Mission), with no shooting! You were supposed to force the trailing enemy planes to crash into the mountains through sudden maneuvers." Lucas made them add the fire button later. Does it make sense for this early version to be on the 7800? I'm not very good with release dates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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