Changes

Play2CPC is an evolution of the [[Plus2CPC]] adapter which includes new major features. [[File:Play2cpc sticker.jpg]] <br> =Features=

===C4CPC: Compatible=== 

The Plus2CPC and Play2CPC allow to program a compatible blank cartridge from the CPC. No USB plug needed.

==PlayCity=GX4000: Partially compatibleCompatible with cartridges but not the device===

Contrarily to the [[PlayCity]], the The Play2CPC is not equipped with a Z80 Counter Timer Circuit chip. The Play2CPC use usable on the default configuration of most of GX4000 because the PlayCity programs, like ALCON 2020GX4000 does not have an expansion port.

The device itself must be connected to a computer, but the cartridges you write can be later used on a GX4000. ===PlayCity: Partially compatible=== Unlike the [[PlayCity]], the Play2CPC is not equipped with a Z80 Counter Timer Circuit chip. The Play2CPC use the default configuration of most of the PlayCity programs, like ALCON 2020. Sound capabilities are also quite different. The Play2CPC is equipped with an obscure soundchip, the OPN3 (ymf288) soundchip. It offers 3 PSG SSG chans, 6 FM 4-op chans and 6 digidrum chans.The PlayCity is instead equipped with 2 PSG SSG soundchips offering a total of 6 PSG SSG chans, but no FM and no digidrum chans.

==Dandanator: Not compatible==It is not compatibleHowever, because the CRTC cursor raster interruption mechanism is identical in PlayCity and Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games, while the [[Dandanator]] use Game Boy Advance cartridge with a custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy ports.

==GX4000=OPL3 soundchip: Compatible with cartridges but not the deviceNot compatible===The Play2CPC is not usable on the GX4000 because the GX4000 does not have an expansion port.

The device itself must be connected Despite having similar names, it's important to a computernote that the OPN3 soundchip is not compatible at all with the OPL3 soundchip (such as the one found in the [[Willy|Willy OPL3 soundcard]]). ===Dandanator: Not compatible=== It is not compatible, but because the cartridges you write can be later used on Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games, while the [[Dandanator]] use Game Boy Advance cartridge with a GX4000custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy ports. So, games like [http://theswordofianna.retroworks.es/ The Sword of Ianna] won't work on the Play2CPC.

I/O Ports:* Port &F988 to : read status 0 or select a page 0 register* Port &F888 read/write to (for SSG, digidrums and the selected page 0 registerfirst 3 FM chans)* Port &F984 to : read status 1 or select a page 1 register(for the last 3 FM chans)* Port &F884 F888: read/write to the selected page 1 register

You can also use the CRTC cursor registers to program the raster interruption ([[NMI]]) located at &0066. It works both on PlayCity and on Play2CPC.

The OPN3 soundchip is mostly a light version of the OPNA soundchip with some functionalities removed: no external ADPCM, no Composite Sine Mode and no GPIO. FM channel 3 is special as it can be split into 2x 2-op chans or 4x 1-op chans.

Relevant datasheets: *[[Media:YMF288.pdf|OPN3 (ymf288) (Japanese)]] and *[[Media:YM2608J Translated.pdf|OPNA (ym2608) (English)]] [https://framagit.org/offset/play2cpc-acepansion Play2CPC ACEpansion] on Framagit