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CPC gaming expansion!

Started by TotO, 11:04, 01 April 13

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TotO

Hey!

Since more than six months, I'm working on a amazing hardware project.
The goal is to add great features to the CPC, using the expansion port.
For that, I have chosen the NEC PC-Engine base to start, because it's a 8-bit videogame system with a generous expansion slot pins capabilities! :)

Can you imagine, playing CPC games using :
- More audio channels
- Graphic processor
- Cartridge support

No more words, but pictures to illustrate this project.

Here, the test board that handle the address decoding from the CPC side.
[attach=2]

A BASIC program making some outs to test the signals states.
[attach=3]

A finally, the decoding part embedded on the console side to stay clean.
(work with a Core Grafx too, but, the PCB can't fit and need to leave external)
[attach=4]

See you later for more Work In Progress sound and display tests !!! :)
Sadly, the Super CD-ROM can't more be plugged actually... :(
Controllers tests will follows...
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

arnoldemu

Impressive.

I had a plan once to connect the raspberry pi to the cpc, the pi would give the cpc dma capabilities and allow you to "stuff the bus" to make more effects possible.

This shows this plan can be a reality.

My games. My Games
My website with coding examples: Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource

SyX

AMAZING!!!! :D :D :D


You are the BEST, TotO!!! :D :D :D

Can you add a pair of nunchuk sockets?  ;D ;D ;D


TotO

Quote from: SyX on 12:30, 01 April 13Can you add a pair of nunchuk sockets?  ;D ;D ;D
Sorry, the PCE not handle an I2C bus, but a parallel multiplexing close to the Megadrive system.
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

rexbeng

Although from the pure technical perspective this is very interesting, I must admit that I don't see what the use is for the CPC. From what I see, it's more or less a completely different system that uses the CPC I/O? If you don't want to make actual CPC games, then why not do them for a more advanced system in the first place?


Anyway, the interesting part for people who do hardware experiments might be to figure out a way to be able to connect and use some type of "cartridge" for the CPC (but for the old generation), which would work without the need for a romboard or other type of expansion. I was always thinking *if* and *how* it could be possible to produce new CPC games that wouldn't need to take disk storage space and speed/accuracy limitations into account. Besides, 3'' disks are very rare, so I'd really like to see a new type of media for the CPC. But media that you could use out of the box, without having to own exotic expansions prior to it.


Could the printer port or the expansion port be used for something like that?


rb

Gryzor

While very impressive, I agree with some of Rex' points. What are the target specs? Not that I'd mind something like that, but I'm not sure exactly what it will do.

TotO

Quote from: rexbeng on 13:16, 01 April 13Could the printer port or the expansion port be used for something like that?
The expansion port, yes. :)
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

TotO

#7
Quote from: Gryzor on 16:23, 01 April 13
While very impressive, I agree with some of Rex' points. What are the target specs? Not that I'd mind something like that, but I'm not sure exactly what it will do.
Yes, I agree too...

Spoiler: ShowHide
Because it was an april fool-fish.  :-\
Have a nice week!!!  :-*
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

rexbeng

Spoiler: ShowHide
Because it was an april fool-fish.  :-\
Have a nice week!!!  :-*




Hahaha you vicious April slut  :P

On to the serious part now, how about this "cartridge" thing...?


rb

TFM

Quote from: rexbeng on 13:16, 01 April 13
... If you don't want to make actual CPC games, then why not do them for a more advanced system in the first place?
Well, this is as true as any kind of PC software dealing with CPCs like emulators, arkos tracker, symstudio, game-designer and and and... BUT here it's at least still a CPC working. So it's a great project IMHO!
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

Gryzor


SyX

To fool or not to fool, that's the question :P

rexbeng


archcosmo

what's the compatibility like on the CPC when the SuperGrafx's PowerConsole docking controller is attached via the Expansion bus???
I'll bet you don't have any desk space left when it's connected....

:P

arnoldemu

Quote from: rexbeng on 18:03, 01 April 13
Spoiler: ShowHide
Because it was an april fool-fish.  :-\
Have a nice week!!!  :-*




Hahaha you vicious April slut  :P

On to the serious part now, how about this "cartridge" thing...?


rb
a cpc cart remains a very good idea.
My games. My Games
My website with coding examples: Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource

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