PCW Plus
PCW Plus
This is the definition of an imaginary computer derived from the Amstrad PCW / Schneider Joyce. It has color video and sound capabilities that the classic PCW lacked. Based on certain features that the ANT project, Arnold Number Two, from the Amstrad/Locomotive development team led by Ronald Perry would also possess.
In the evolution of Habisoft's CP/M Box emulator and its research into the PCW system, the fantastic idea arose to clone the dk'Sound board with the AY sound chip. And later, thanks to FPGA technology, the PCW was equipped with an accessory that would enable color video.
Historically, only one commercial program, the one published by Ocean, "HeadOverHeels" by Ritman and Drummond, supported the AY chip on the PCW.
Habisoft published a series of ports from CPC that expanded the PCW library with sound: Abbey of Crime; Hero Quest; Knight Lore; Pac Mania; Spirits
Later, it standardized the possibility of ports from the ZX Spectrum to PCW: Movie; Fat Worm; Nonamed; and Phantomas2, which used the PCW's buzzer as the Spectrum's beeper. Some also incorporated AY music.
The conversion trail was followed by Kachorro in its Spectrum ports of Barbarian, Coliseum, and Xecutor.
But the possibility of standardizing color options in PCW (Plus) was now opened up with the ColorIN specifications.
Video Modes: PCWplus
0 – PCWclassic monochrome: 2 colors, 720x256. 1 – Groups bits 2 by 2, giving 4 colors; 360x256. 2 – Same as 4-bit. 16 colors, 180x256. 3 – 8x1 attribute mode, as Timex/Thomson/MSX/... 8+8 bits are read, the first 8 are background and ink (4+4) and the next 8 are the bitmap. This allows for 16 colors in 360x256, at the cost of using only 2 different colors every 8x1 pixel. Due to the delay, the screen shifts one character to the right. 4 – Experimental, unofficial: 90x256, with 256 direct colors from the 8-bit palette. It therefore ignores the color palette. Enterprise-style, not particularly useful, but colorful.
Regarding the interface: Port $80 is used to send a value to select a register. Port $81 is for associated data; both support reading and writing. Similar to the operation of integrated circuits such as the PSG or a VDP, it allows sending many values with a minimal interface.
This is how KachorroSoft created the incredible color ports of AMC and MadMixGame with graphics from the CPC; Phantis from MS-DOS CGA and CPC; and Hundra from the ZX Spectrum.
PCW Plus enables fantastic loading screens never seen before on 8-bit systems.
Color and sound enhanced versions of Batman and Head Over Heels will follow later. Showcasing the capabilities of the PCW Plus system
- Backward compatibility with the classic PCW is maintained in the software.
PCW Plus is currently supported by the ZEsarUX and CP/M Box emulators and by numerous FPGA board cores thanks to Steddyman; Rampa; Albconde and ManuTeira (Mister; SIDI; Poseidon; Calypso; NeptUNO+ ; Mist ), and by Czarnikjak's color add-on board using Raspberry Pi.
In parallel, the PCW Wiki project continues its arduous work of preserving and conserving PCW software and graphical material.
links: https://enriqueggalvez.itch.io/
https://www.habisoft.com/pcwwiki/doku.php?id=es:nuevos:indice
