Status of the CPC community?

[Maskedman]

Hey there guys,


After a rather long break from the CPC community, I made my first post in a while today.


What is the current status of the community these days?


What happened to the CPC Zone and all the old members of those days?


Thomas

[Bryce]

Well as you will see if you click on the "Members" link at the top of the page, the community is large. A glance at the bottom of the home page will show you that it's also rather active (currently 61 people browsing the Forum). It's has also been growing quite a bit in the recent past and new members (like yourself) are still joining regularly. I hope you find what you are looking for here and stay a while, it really is a good group here.

Bryce.

[Maskedman]

Hi Bryce,


That sounds really nice, the community always has been a persistent and loyal bunch.


I'm also interested in what happened to all the old user submitted material, like the reviews and coverscans - it was, afterall quite a bit of material that got lost during the closure of the CPC Zone.


Thomas

[Bryce]

I'm not sure about those, I wasn't really active online back then, but I'm sure some of the others here will know more. That's another thing that this community is strong in: CPC Knowledge. No matter what aspect of the CPC interests you, Hardware, Software, Demos, Gaming, Chiptuning or whatever, you'll usually find an expert here, who can answer any questions you have.

Bryce.

[Maskedman]

Just like the good old CPC Zone days...


Are user written reviews being submiteed these days, it's sad that all those reviews were lost with the Zone going under.


So many experts, sometimes it feels a bit irrelevant just being an old fart with lots of memories about your first computer 

[AMSDOS]

Yes it had some nice stuff on it. I dare say most of the old members are here now.


Nich has a Games Review Site which people are allowed to contribute to, though once the game has been reviewed, it's pretty much covered.

[Maskedman]

I do remember some of the old users, like you CP/M User - nice to see some familiar faces   

[ivarf]

Just like the good old CPC Zone days...

The biggest difference is that people can write whatever they want, they do not have to be afraid that the sites disappears if for whatever reason the owner overreacts.

And if something happends that makes this site goes away, the chances for the content to come back in some way is a lot higher

[Gryzor]

Hello Zorro Maskedman,


Welcome back


The other users prettu much covered it all, but let me also address your questions:

   
• CPCZone went down when Malc lost interest for it, for personal reasons.
• The Zone material has been lost to the public. I think Malc had mentioned some time ago that he still had it all, but judging from his approach, it's unlikely it's going to see the light of day any day soon. So yeah, a great shame but it's pretty much gone.
• The scene is pretty lively. The member list does not tell the truth as we have many lurkers or dead accounts, but you can take a look at the Statistics thread in the "CPCWiki discussion" board and judge for yourself. Four days ago we peaked at almost 800 unique visits in a day and there are other very nice and active sites online, too. So I'd say there's quite some interest.
• Yes, you can contribute anything you like, both on the Wiki part and in here. If you have any ideas- please share. If you want to contribute but don't know how - please ask. I think you'll find people here are quite friendly, I dare say more than in the old days.
• Regarding contribution, and in relation to the Zone, much discussion has been made about it. The CPCWiki is using open platforms so anyone can take the data and run the thing on another server should something happen. Also the community has been funding the wiki, actually. There are backup procedures and constant maintenance - for a period I'd been operating a dead man's switch as well but I found it to be redundant. We've done as much as possible to make sure nothing will end up in the ether.

Welcome back, once more Buy some hardware, get some of the new software, have fun

[MacDeath]

Four days ago we peaked at almost 800 unique visits in a day and there are other very nice and active sites online, too. So I'd say there's quite some interest.

Was it spam from scambots or the release from Overflow and his explanations on Plasma and sourcecode attracting demosceners from all horizons ?

[Gryzor]

No idea why, didn't check the destinations, but lately there's an upwards move. Spambots do not account for unique visits anyhow...

[Maskedman]

Hello Zorro Maskedman,


Welcome back


The other users prettu much covered it all, but let me also address your questions:

   
• CPCZone went down when Malc lost interest for it, for personal reasons.
• The Zone material has been lost to the public. I think Malc had mentioned some time ago that he still had it all, but judging from his approach, it's unlikely it's going to see the light of day any day soon. So yeah, a great shame but it's pretty much gone.
• The scene is pretty lively. The member list does not tell the truth as we have many lurkers or dead accounts, but you can take a look at the Statistics thread in the "CPCWiki discussion" board and judge for yourself. Four days ago we peaked at almost 800 unique visits in a day and there are other very nice and active sites online, too. So I'd say there's quite some interest.
• Yes, you can contribute anything you like, both on the Wiki part and in here. If you have any ideas- please share. If you want to contribute but don't know how - please ask. I think you'll find people here are quite friendly, I dare say more than in the old days.
• Regarding contribution, and in relation to the Zone, much discussion has been made about it. The CPCWiki is using open platforms so anyone can take the data and run the thing on another server should something happen. Also the community has been funding the wiki, actually. There are backup procedures and constant maintenance - for a period I'd been operating a dead man's switch as well but I found it to be redundant. We've done as much as possible to make sure nothing will end up in the ether.

Welcome back, once more Buy some hardware, get some of the new software, have fun

Thanks - it's good to be back!


I think the community has made a very nice recovery from the CPCZone mess, the fact that you no longer need to worry about what you say about something totally unrelated to the CPC, which could lead to a tantrum and bad vibes - speaks volumes about the current state.


You deserve A LOT of credit Gryzor for the work you've done for the community, thank you very much for "keeping the scene alive" 


Yes, I guess it's time to bring my old 464 up from the basement and plug it in - but reading through all the posts, it seems like everyting is run in emulators or disks, no love for the old taperecorder anymore? 

[Bryce]

it seems like everyting is run in emulators or disks, no love for the old taperecorder anymore? 

Not a chance! There's loads of us here that still use (some exclusively like myself) real hardware including 464s. There's also new hardware devices still being developed. Check out the hardware section and you'll see enough people fixing, expanding and using the real thing.

Bryce.

[Maskedman]

Not a chance! There's loads of us here that still use (some exclusively like myself) real hardware including 464s. There's also new hardware devices still being developed. Check out the hardware section and you'll see enough people fixing, expanding and using the real thing.

Bryce.

Good to hear that somebody is indeed still using the real thing, that settles it; I'm bringing the beast up this weekend.


Yes, I'm very amazed the way people are able to fiddle with their CPC - I think I might have to ask for some must-have mod's made to a real CPC 

[Gryzor]

 Thanks for your kind words. There's also an off-topic forum to boot, but you'll find that many times threads can take absurd turns away from the original topic or even go outside the CPC confines. We're trying to keep a good balance between fun and, erm, subject-specific fun.

Oh, and lots of us use real hardware. I'd be using a 464 myself since it's my favorite machine but you do need a 6128, and I don't have all that space... here's my desk (maybe we should start a dedicated thread for that?)


[attach=2]

[TotO]

Nice screen...
May be, the Firmware can be less verbose?

[Gryzor]

Nice screen...
May be, the Firmware can be less verbose?

But each line is a different ROM, as always...

Say, it'd be nice if someone could make an online program into which you could create a customized ROM! Like, which version you want, what it types on the screen on boot-up, what mode it starts in, what palette... would that be impossible?

[Maskedman]

Thanks for your kind words. There's also an off-topic forum to boot, but you'll find that many times threads can take absurd turns away from the original topic or even go outside the CPC confines. We're trying to keep a good balance between fun and, erm, subject-specific fun.

Oh, and lots of us use real hardware. I'd be using a 464 myself since it's my favorite machine but you do need a 6128, and I don't have all that space... here's my desk (maybe we should start a dedicated thread for that?)


[attach=2]

Wow...impressive, looks like Robocop with upgrades on.


Creative use of the beer cans 


If you have the time, could you describe all the mods?

[00WReX]

Oh, most definately using real hardware + some modern extra's.
Sorry for the crappy quality photo's, my phone does not like the lighting.

[AMSDOS]

but you'll find that many times threads can take absurd turns away from the original topic or even go outside the CPC confines.

I try to keep it to the Silly Thread! 

[Bryce]

Say, it'd be nice if someone could make an online program into which you could create a customized ROM! Like, which version you want, what it types on the screen on boot-up, what mode it starts in, what palette... would that be impossible?

Eh, can't you just modify the existing ROMs with a HEX editor? That's what I do.

Bryce.

[TotO]

But each line is a different ROM, as always...

But, the Firmware can disable the text output before initializing ROM, then restore it. (sure, it's not the topic subject here)

[Gryzor]

@MaskedMan: sure:
-on the floppy drive you have the HxC Floppy emulator which reads disk images off an SD card and serves them to the CPC. The CPC sees the Emulator as a normal floppy drive! It's an amazing kit and is compatible with every machine out there, so if you're into retro stuff in general you should check it out. Mine is the boxed version, you can buy the naked thing itself (very sexy).
-Behind the CPC is Bryce's LowerRom], runnin the newly-developed firmware, and Bryce's [url=http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MegaROM]MegaROM with several ROMS on it.
-Unconnected you can see bryce's mouse adapter (next to the MegaROM) and a Bryce S-Video output convertor (next to the LowerROM).

You'll notice Bryce's name comes up a lot, get used to it

Unfortunately the Symbiface II is not in the picture frame, another nice kit.

Also, this is my favorite beer can ever. Thick and sturdy. Nice beer, too.

@Bryce: ooh, HEX editing, used to do that a lot... sure, if someone could share the locations... I mean, text you can find, but variables like colour and modes? And a tool to do that would be just great. Easy to create, too, I'd guess.
   
@TotO: but I like it that way When my MegaROM is filled to the brim it's a joy to see the screen scroll down!

[TotO]

@Bryce: ooh, HEX editing, used to do that a lot... sure, if someone could share the locations... I mean, text you can find, but variables like colour and modes? And a tool to do that would be just great. Easy to create, too, I'd guess.
   
@TotO: but I like it that way When my MegaROM is filled to the brim it's a joy to see the screen scroll down!

Sure, it's why all those features need to be optionals and saved in a ROM portion for exemple.
No worry, we though about that...

[Bryce]

-Behind the CPC is Bryce's LowerRom], runnin the newly-developed firmware, and Bryce's [url=http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MegaROM]MegaROM with several ROMS on it.
[/url]

Eh, that's a MegaFlash you've got connected behind the LowerROM Board. The MegaROM is a different device.

Bryce.