So, I really want to get a CPC again. I'm thinking either a 6128 or 6128+ and one of those HxC SD Floppy Emulators.
I'd rather not run a huge CRT monitor, if I could run a regular PC monitor of some kind, but I'm also in the US now so I'm more limited to what might work with the CPC than when I was in the UK.
Is this an possible dream, and am I just going to wind up shipping a huge bulky CRT across the Atlantic.
Well it is possible to rig up a vga screen using an adaptor board. This does however mean that some hardware scrolling hacks are awfully jerky. A normative crt tv is fine so long as you can get one with a scart connector - doubtful in the US. Flat screen tv's also work, but again with the scrolling issues.
Quote from: mattl on 16:35, 25 July 14
So, I really want to get a CPC again. I'm thinking either a 6128 or 6128+ and one of those HxC SD Floppy Emulators.
I'd rather not run a huge CRT monitor, if I could run a regular PC monitor of some kind, but I'm also in the US now so I'm more limited to what might work with the CPC than when I was in the UK.
Is this an possible dream, and am I just going to wind up shipping a huge bulky CRT across the Atlantic.
No need for a monitor. All you need is a good quality regulated 5v PSU capable of delivering a couple of Amps (such as those sold by RS, not cheap crap from Fleabay) and a CPC SCART lead. In fact this looks like the ticket PSU wise - http://www.thesinclairshop.com/PDF/Amstrad-duel-voltage-psu.pdf (http://www.thesinclairshop.com/PDF/Amstrad-duel-voltage-psu.pdf)
However from there your life will get harder as most American TV's don't have SCART. So you'll need to find a way to get the SCART into your TV. SCART to HDMI converters with upscaling are readily available this side of the Atlantic.
You could also use a GBS 8220 if you want to use a normal monitor. They tend to be pretty cheap if you buy from a Chinese seller, should be around $40.
E.g. CGA EGA YUV RGB to VGA Arcade Game Video Converter 2VGA Dual VGA GBS 8220 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/CGA-EGA-YUV-RGB-to-VGA-Arcade-game-video-Converter-2VGA-dual-VGA-GBS-8220-/331269419594) or GBS 8220 RGB CGA EGA YUV to VGA Arcade Games HD Video Converter Board ABB | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/GBS-8220-RGB-CGA-EGA-YUV-to-VGA-Arcade-Games-HD-Video-Converter-Board-abb-/351082694084)
It all depends on how much you must have that Non jittery image, For example...
Attached are 2 videos, Both taken using my 464plus playing Relentless.
the first one is using the original Monitor, and the 2nd a Scart lead to a tft small screen TV, Notice the Jitter
Original CM14
DSCI0016 - YouTube (http://youtu.be/DZv9kx-5r7w)
SCART TFT TV
DSCI0017 - YouTube (http://youtu.be/93scyGfbtE0)
This case is a rare exception.
So, depending of the usage it's not a problem to plug a CPC on a LCD panel.
For power you can use a pc power supply with a suitable lead. May have those on eBay.
For video bryce made a s video adaptor. Do US televisions or monitors take that?
Quote from: TotO on 12:06, 26 July 14
This case is a rare exception.
So, depending of the usage it's not a problem to plug a CPC on a LCD panel.
Well not that rare....
Super Cauldron, Prehistorik 2, Edge Grinder, Relentless, Subhunter all suffer
Pretty much anything recent with sideways scrolling.
Except the following, all of which work fine in my testing
R-Type 128, Dead on Time, Orion Prime, BB4CPC
So I guess it depends on what you want to play / do on your CPC.
Regards
Craig
Any game / demo that changes the screen frequencies for effects will jitter on anything that isn't 100% analogue. ie: Original monitors and SCART to CRT TV will be fine, any LCD / Plasma / VGA solutions whether SCART or S-Video will jitter.
S-Video is usually standard on US TVs, however my S-Video PCB is PAL only, so it may not be suitable for most US TVs.
Bryce.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 13:24, 26 July 14
Super Cauldron, Prehistorik 2, Edge Grinder, Relentless, Subhunter all suffer
Subhunter? What sort of problem did you encounter? The game uses software scrolling rather than hardware, so cannot suffer from the same problem as Relentless or Edge Grinder on a flat panel display.
Quote from: Axelay on 14:56, 26 July 14
Subhunter? What sort of problem did you encounter? The game uses software scrolling rather than hardware, so cannot suffer from the same problem as Relentless or Edge Grinder on a flat panel display.
The shark sprites and swimmers have some jiggle/ghosting that looks a bit odd, which does not happen on a CM14. nothing to stop me playing this superb game. If I can find a way of holding the camera phone still enough *and* playing the game I'll try and get a photo.
Craig
Quote from: CraigsBar on 13:24, 26 July 14Well not that rare....
Super Cauldron, Prehistorik 2, Edge Grinder, Relentless, Subhunter all suffer Pretty much anything recent with sideways scrolling.
Yes... 5 games over 11000 entries on CPC Power. For me 0.05% is rare. :D
Quote from: TotO on 15:31, 26 July 14
Yes... 5 games over 11000 entries on CPC Power. For me 0.05% is rare. :D
I would imagine these recent releases are the ones that will get most game play. With the exception of the occasional classic (Chuckie Egg and Harvey Headbanger) I imagine most people play the recent releases more frequently than the older ones.
These games provide great fun, and a WOW factor that earlier releases do not.
I certainly enjoy those 5 far more than say 90% of the Movie licences, Dizzy or Roland on the ropes.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 15:13, 26 July 14
<snip>
If I can find a way of holding the camera phone still enough *and* playing the game I'll try and get a photo.
Well Playing with a Konix Speedking whilst balancing a camera did not do anything for my score or playing technique. However you will notice that the faster moving subs, Sharks and some of the swimmers have some weird jiggle and graphical artifacts associated with them, these do not occur on the CM14 or CTM644.
Video at: YouTube (http://youtu.be/sgD_Bv-fcEA)
And 2 images taken out of the video where Ghosting is visible around the sharks.
Sure, you are right about the fact that new productions use those R3 scroll to be more impressive. It's why I said that depend of the people usage.
Not all peoples are interested about those games, so they can plug a CPC to a LCD panel w/o big issues.
Quote from: TotO on 21:20, 26 July 14
Sure, you are right about the fact that new productions use those R3 scroll to be more impressive. It's why I said that depend of the people usage.
Not all peoples are interested about those games, so they can plug a CPC to a LCD panel w/o big issues.
I posted a little program in here (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/programming/about-hardware-scrolling-with-crtc-reg-3/msg82268/#msg82268) which uses that to smooth things out with an ordinary block scroll, I just wondered how that worked out on LCD? I didn't get any feedback regarding it, so I'm assuming it's no good.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 23:18, 25 July 14
It all depends on how much you must have that Non jittery image, For example...
Attached are 2 videos, Both taken using my 464plus playing Relentless.
the first one is using the original Monitor, and the 2nd a Scart lead to a tft small screen TV, Notice the Jitter
Neither of my CPC's do that with any of my LCD's. You have a badly engineered or faulty TV. The most I have seen is a very minor glitch on some demos and R-Type.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 15:45, 26 July 14
I would imagine these recent releases are the ones that will get most game play. With the exception of the occasional classic (Chuckie Egg and Harvey Headbanger) I imagine most people play the recent releases more frequently than the older ones.
Gosh, that's a statement and a half! I think I'll leave that to sit there rather than try and explain just how wrong I think it is.
Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 09:48, 27 July 14
Gosh, that's a statement and a half! I think I'll leave that to sit there rather than try and explain just how wrong I think it is.
I am glad you think it's wrong. That way I get more interesting videos to watch.
I'm not exactly what you'd call a gamer, but when I do play CPC games it's almost always the older games from back then, nothing new.
Bryce.
I definitely prefer a CRT screen, for so many reasons. The nostalgia, the picture, the smooth scrolling. Crisp picture that feels alive.
The LCD screen feels so dry.
But I also have to admit, that both the CPC's I have set up at home, are connected to LCD screens, to save space.
My opinion: A CPC without a CRT screen is not "complete". :)
LCD screen is only an acceptable solution to use while waiting for a chance to make your CPC complete. :D
I have learned to live with this "incomplete" solution though, because I also appreciate having some space. It's nice to be able to use 1 screen for my PC + my CPC + TV at the same time. My CPC 6128 is placed with behind my PC keyboard. If I didn't have this setup, I wouldn't be using my CPC nearly as much.
So let's put it in code:
if (LCD_accepted==HighCPCUsage && CRT_required==LowCPCUsage) OKtoUseLCD = true;
Quote from: CraigsBar on 15:45, 26 July 14
I would imagine these recent releases are the ones that will get most game play. With the exception of the occasional classic (Chuckie Egg and Harvey Headbanger) I imagine most people play the recent releases more frequently than the older ones.
These games provide great fun, and a WOW factor that earlier releases do not.
I mainly play the old games on the CPC, and I mean the very old, it's pre-old-school games.
Often it's strange games with unique concept. You don't have to win, you have to hack the rooms. They don't require smooth scrollers to be enjoyable. Also I found most weren't good later with younger hardware, Boulderdash and all the clones... (emerald mine? :grumpycat:) please give me a CPC.
Cyberchicken looks great on both the original monitor and my LCD one...great game by the way
Quote from: dcdrac on 18:27, 27 July 14
Cyberchicken looks great on both the original monitor and my LCD one...great game by the way
seconded. The full retail version is awesome with a symbiface mouse, I cannot wait to hear it with a playcity.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 16:11, 26 July 14
Well Playing with a Konix Speedking whilst balancing a camera did not do anything for my score or playing technique. However you will notice that the faster moving subs, Sharks and some of the swimmers have some weird jiggle and graphical artifacts associated with them, these do not occur on the CM14 or CTM644.
And 2 images taken out of the video where Ghosting is visible around the sharks.
Well that's some interesting looking visual issue, but I dont know what to make of it. The game uses a double buffered screen, so that sort of visual 'flicker' on sprites should be impossible. I can only take a wild guess that your LCD is having issues with the video signal in some way, but I really dont know how. Have you seen that type of ghosting on any other games?
Quote from: Axelay on 14:56, 28 July 14
Well that's some interesting looking visual issue, but I dont know what to make of it. The game uses a double buffered screen, so that sort of visual 'flicker' on sprites should be impossible. I can only take a wild guess that your LCD is having issues with the video signal in some way, but I really dont know how. Have you seen that type of ghosting on any other games?
Not that I have noticed. That one game has that issue on both of my LCD screens. An Akai 19 inches widescreen as well as The 32" Samsung I took that photo on.
No biggie for me as use a cm14 most of the time.
Craig.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 14:59, 28 July 14
Not that I have noticed. That one game has that issue on both of my LCD screens. An Akai 19 inches widescreen as well as The 32" Samsung I took that photo on.
No biggie for me as use a cm14 most of the time.
Craig.
Is there any kind of 100hz mode or thing like that set on these screens?
Perhaps some smoother motion frame interpolation thing?
On the cheepo akai certainly not. On the Samsung... Lemme check.
Hmmm. 50hz only on scart. 100 or 120 available on hdmi.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
I think I might get a CPC 6128, one of those CGA boxes and one of these for now -- HxC2001 HeadQuarters : HxC Floppy Emulator (http://hxc2001.free.fr/floppy_drive_emulator/)
Is it worth getting a 6128plus, so I can play the few extra games? (Fluff, etc rather than GX4000 games)
Quote from: mattl on 18:33, 28 July 14
Is it worth getting a 6128plus, so I can play the few extra games? (Fluff, etc rather than GX4000 games)
In my opinion: No.
Quote from: mr_lou on 18:38, 28 July 14
In my opinion: No.
In my opinion definitely yes. Prehistorik 2 is worth it alone. And those few games include frogger.
However it is still a good idea to have a Cpc as well. If you want a value for money single system get a Cpc 6128. If you want an all singing all dancing best of the best, the get a plus.
I have 3 pluses and 2 Cpc 6128's now. Would I give any of them up? No.
The 6128 plus gets most use. It's not just the games and 4096 colours. Better keyboard and monitor count in the pluses favour too.
Prehistorik is freaking slow to me... but awesome looking and nice demo.
Anyway those PLUS are great if you want to produce something... be it some graphics or whatever...
they are the most recent models so most of them are in good state, the 5V diskDrive is quite conveniant as well and the casing is great to have a few add-inside extra wares.
Plus it can be great to have Pang, Panza, robocop2, navy seal, Plotting and a few others cartridges.
So yeah, if it is complete and in good shape and not too expensive, go for it my friends...
The classic CPC6128 is always the best choice anyway... compact design, Tape drive plug and full compatibility everytimes unless some pesky demomaker would screw his CRTC effects so the one you happen to just have doesn't work... :D
Tape drive plug (may be used with MP3 player/recorder anyway... superrior use than pisspoor old tapes) may not be too hard to implement on 6128PLUS though...
Are you in America ?
I guess the 60hz is a major issue... but there may be some adapters to get proper 50hz current, yet must be near to impossible to find a proper CRT 50hz RGB monitor, getting it shiped must also be quite expenssive... and redo all the electronic on another TV also hard.
But aren't there some TV able to perform all those ?
50/60 hz ?
I mean they were all produced in asia for international market and may certainly be switched via some slight switches inside...
Does the + fully compatible with all the games that works on a 6128?
amstradtoday.com
"Il peut-être tout à fait sympathique de brancher un CPC+ ou une GX-4000 sur un CTM640/644 afin de découvrir les derniers nés d'AMSTRAD. Mais si vous utilisez votre CPC pour jouer, les incompatibilités de la gamme "+" avec les logiciels précédant sa sortie risquent de devenir rapidement insupportables. C'est pourquoi le joueur possédant un CPC classique préfèrera conserver sa petite brune anthracite et faire l'acquisition d'une GX-4000 pour accéder aux bienfaits de la ludothèque au format cartouche. Grâce à ce montage, les 2 machines peuvent sans problème se cotoyer sur le même moniteur. "
(google translator)
"But if you use your CPC to play, incompatibilities in the range "+" with the software before its release can quickly become unbearable."
Quote from: mr_lou on 18:38, 28 July 14
In my opinion: No.
A Plus seems like a good idea until you realise just how much those cartridge games are going to cost and frankly you could go and get far more interesting stuff for the same kind of money for other systems (e.g. some of the more pricey Saturn shooters).
Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 23:34, 28 July 14
A Plus seems like a good idea until you realise just how much those cartridge games are going to cost and frankly you could go and get far more interesting stuff for the same kind of money for other systems (e.g. some of the more pricey Saturn shooters).
Really? I just bought 5 from Trade in Post (OK already have them all, but I'll be stripping them down and reprogramming the Eproms with those I am missing) for 7.50 each.
If anyone else wants a cartridge reprogramming then I am certainly up for helping out. Pang is getting scarce now and bonkers priced, However No Exit is still cheaply available and can be easily reprogrammed :)
Craig
Edit: Unless of course you mean Chase HQ2: SGI in which case yes, it is a bit over the top price wise, then again only 2 copies exist as far as we know and that counts for something. I'd pay a lot for that.... but not as much as the 2 on Ebay went for. Hopefully *Someone* will find it in their hearts to dump it so we can all play it at least. There will still only be 2 originals.
Quote from: dcdrac on 18:27, 27 July 14
Cyberchicken looks great on both the original monitor and my LCD one...great game by the way
Quote from: CraigsBar on 18:34, 27 July 14seconded. The full retail version is awesome with a symbiface mouse, I cannot wait to hear it with a playcity.
Thank you very much!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Quote from: mattl on 16:35, 25 July 14
...but I'm also in the US now ...
Me too! CPC meeting in New Orleans? Haha! Just arrived yesterday and brought a CPC6128 with me. :)
EDIT: I managed to get an US CTM, but I needed years to find it. They are very scarce.
concerning the PLUS uncompatibility...
Many games were patched by the Amstradists...
and many who weren't are not good anyway... ;D
I never quite know if there is a complete list of those anyway.
Barbarian had issues but then jsut use the "Death Sword 128k" version. ::)
concerning cartridges... the way to "emulate" them have been developed... Just nobody actually produced a batch yet nor sold them (TotO, WTF are you doing ???)
Quote from: MacDeath on 22:09, 29 July 14
Barbarian had issues but then jsut use the "Death Sword 128k" version. ::)
And Elite was patched so that just about covers everything. I have not found a single game (Other than those 2) that does not work. Even games that are listed on CPC-Power as not working seem to work for me on my 6128plus
Craig
Perhaps those pesky democoders who can't do jack shit beside CRTC2 models... ::)
well, some democoders are openly anti-PLUS and would do stuff not working on those... I was quite embarrassed that one recent demo (which one ? can't remember) wasn't working on the PLUS I brought at a Demoparty/AmigaParty last year...
it wasn't Batman of course.
Phortem worked perfectly and even had a PLUS palette mode...
Revival impact coop worked well to obviously.
Was it Still rising? or Wake up... can't remember.
So, maybe a 6128plus with CGA monitor and that external drive SD thing? I'd like to use that as the A drive, and disable the internal drive if possible.
Okay, now I'm officially looking for a 6128plus.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 22:15, 29 July 14
And Elite was patched so that just about covers everything. I have not found a single game (Other than those 2) that does not work. Even games that are listed on CPC-Power as not working seem to work for me on my 6128plus
There is a few games with the "bugged" keyboard routine for CPC+ or where the disk loader try to access directly to the disk rom, have you taken a look to the games in the T&J list (http://tj.gpa.free.fr/html/divers/buglist.htm)?
But i think the 100% of problematic games have been fixed already and you can get a crack with the fixed game... but if you find one not fixed yet, only say it and we'll try to fix it.
Quote from: MacDeath on 22:09, 29 July 14
concerning the PLUS uncompatibility...
Many games were patched by the Amstradists...
and many who weren't are not good anyway... ;D
I never quite know if there is a complete list of those anyway.
Interresting, where do you found those patches or maybe it's full DSK?
Perhaps I didn't notice them on cpcpower.
Then what about the cheat menu. Is it easy like when you download a cheated version on cpcpower?
Edit: sorry SyX, didn't saw your post. 100% fixed...
Quote from: MacDeath on 22:34, 29 July 14
Perhaps those pesky democoders who can't do jack shit beside CRTC2 models... ::)
well, some democoders are openly anti-PLUS and would do stuff not working on those... I was quite embarrassed that one recent demo (which one ? can't remember) wasn't working on the PLUS I brought at a Demoparty/AmigaParty last year...
it wasn't Batman of course.
Phortem worked perfectly and even had a PLUS palette mode...
Revival impact coop worked well to obviously.
Was it Still rising? or Wake up... can't remember.
From Scratch perhaps... i doesn't work on my CRTC 4 (which is supposed to emulate a CRTC 1) so i suppose it's the same on a plus
Quote from: CraigsBar on 20:10, 29 July 14
Really? I just bought 5 from Trade in Post (OK already have them all, but I'll be stripping them down and reprogramming the Eproms with those I am missing) for 7.50 each.
The 3 worth having, Navy Seals, Switchblade and Pang all seem to go for silly money. Robocop 2 is worth a look if you enjoy sadistic pixel perfect jumping and unforgiving gameplay. The rest are a mix of standard CPC games (Batman, Klax) and total rubbish. Copter 271 anyone? Fire and Forget 2? Wild Streets? No Exit? All absolute crap.
Just a thought but why hasn't someone built a CPC cart to SD card adaptor? Load your image onto an SD card and the CPC treats it like a cart.
Quote from: mattl on 22:47, 29 July 14
So, maybe a 6128plus with CGA monitor and that external drive SD thing? I'd like to use that as the A drive, and disable the internal drive if possible.
Okay, now I'm officially looking for a 6128plus.
CGA is a digital RGBI system, a CGA monitor can't be connected to a CPC without extra hardware and even then it couldn't display all the colours required.
Bryce.
Quote from: remax on 00:19, 30 July 14
From Scratch perhaps... i doesn't work on my CRTC 4 (which is supposed to emulate a CRTC 1) so i suppose it's the same on a plus
I think type 4 is closer to type 0.
Type 4 is the same as a type 3.
Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 00:52, 30 July 14
Just a thought but why hasn't someone built a CPC cart to SD card adaptor? Load your image onto an SD card and the CPC treats it like a cart.
PulkoMandy and Syx have designed a simple SD card interface that connects to the printer port. There is a work in progress file system that loads files from it as if it was a disk or tape.
Quote from: SyX on 22:56, 29 July 14
There is a few games with the "bugged" keyboard routine for CPC+ or where the disk loader try to access directly to the disk rom, have you taken a look to the games in the T&J list (http://tj.gpa.free.fr/html/divers/buglist.htm)?
But i think the 100% of problematic games have been fixed already and you can get a crack with the fixed game... but if you find one not fixed yet, only say it and we'll try to fix it.
I thought Cesar (CNGSoft) has made fixes for all of these?
Quote from: chinnyhill10 on 00:49, 30 July 14
The 3 worth having, Navy Seals, Switchblade and Pang all seem to go for silly money. Robocop 2 is worth a look if you enjoy sadistic pixel perfect jumping and unforgiving gameplay. The rest are a mix of standard CPC games (Batman, Klax) and total rubbish. Copter 271 anyone? Fire and Forget 2? Wild Streets? No Exit? All absolute crap.
I quite like Copter 271. Nice graphics and while not the most exciting shooter ever made I still find it somewhat playable unlike RoboCop 2.
Quote from: arnoldemu on 08:51, 30 July 14
I thought Cesar (CNGSoft) has made fixes for all of these?
Yes, i'm practically sure, but maybe there is one or two games that we don't know yet... not totally related to this, but he should make a post explaining his motivations for his last batch of fixed games, because he has been making a wonderful work in the dark and i'm sure not everybody knows about it.
Quote from: SyX on 22:56, 29 July 14
There is a few games with the "bugged" keyboard routine for CPC+ or where the disk loader try to access directly to the disk rom, have you taken a look to the games in the T&J list (http://tj.gpa.free.fr/htmlers/buglist.htm)?
But i think the 100% of problematic games have been fixed already and you can get a crack with the fixed game... but if you find one not fixed yet, only say it and we'll try to fix it.
In the list Gauntlet is missing, in this case saving a highscore screws up the disc. Any solution for that?
Quote from: TFM on 16:45, 30 July 14
In the list Gauntlet is missing, in this case saving a highscore screws up the disc. Any solution for that?
ahhh, is that why my gauntlet disc is fubar?
Yes, like mine too. :(
I only have tested gauntlet (the original floppy from CPC Power) a little, but after i got a hi-score and i put the name, i can not exit to the "put name" for those records being saved in the floppy, i have pressed every key and joystick button, but no way?!?!?! ... i must be really tired today :P
Same happens here. Let's get another DSK or so.
Quote from: TFM on 17:36, 06 August 14
Same happens here. Let's get another DSK or so.
I guess this is purely a amsdos thing. With parados in slot 7 on my 6128plus the high scores are correctly written to disk.
Quote from: CraigsBar on 18:21, 06 August 14
I guess this is purely a amsdos thing. With parados in slot 7 on my 6128plus the high scores are correctly written to disk.
Looks a really interesting bug, i will try to look when i have some free time... but if somebody wants to take a look, go on, another CPC mistery can be solved :)
Well, it makes sense. If a game jumps into the AMSDOS or ParaDOS then it works, because they are very similar or identical (in the DOS part, about 5 KB). The Amsdos of the Plus is somehow "shifted", so a direct call jumps at the wrong address.