Changes
Plus
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== Introduction to the Plus range ==
<gallery align="right">image:6128plus_es.jpg|Spanish Amstrad 6128 Plusimage:6128plus_fr_en_kanga.jpg|Custom Airbrushed 6128 Plus</gallery> In 1990 Amstrad introduced the "Plus" series range which tweaked the hardware in many ways and added a cartridge slot to all models. The Plus included the 464 Plus, 6128 Plus and the GX4000 video game console (which is a cut down Plus without the keyboard nor support for non-cartridge media). All of the range included a cartridge slot and additional hardware improvements.
Most improvements were to the video display which saw an increase in palette to 4096 colours and gained the capability of hardware sprites. Splitting the display into two separate windows and pixel scrolling both became full supported hardware features although both were possible on the non-"Plus" hardware using clever programming of the existing Motorola 6845. An automatic DMA transfer system for feeding the sound chip was also added but the sound chip itself remained unchanged. Additionally, the BASIC command set for disc access was improved.
These models did not do very well in the marketplace, failing to attract any substantial third party support. The 8-bit technology behind the Plus was starting to look a little out of date by 1990 and users resented the substantial price hike for cartridge games compared to their tape and disc counterparts. However, the Plus machines did sell well in France where Amstrad still had a large following due to the success of the classic CPC range there.
The range was officially titled as 'Amstrad 464 Plus', 'Amstrad 6128 Plus' and 'GX4000' and the 'CPC' (standing for Colour Personal Computer) abbreviation used in the older generation was dropped. However, many Amstrad users refer to the Plus range as 'CPC Plus' or 'CPC+' due to the inherent similarities of the two ranges.
Klick to see the PCB of the 6128 Plus [[Mainboard Versions]] == The GX4000 Games Console == <gallery captionalign="CPC+/GX4000right">image:6128plus_es.jpg|Spanish Amstrad 6128 Plusimage:6128plus_fr_en_kanga.jpg|Custom Airbrushed 6128 Plus
Image:Gx4000.jpg|Amstrad GX4000
Image:Amstrad-GX4000-Console-Set.jpg|Amstrad GX4000
</gallery>
The GX4000 was [[Amstrad]]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.
* The master clock is 39.9Mhz (approx) instead of 40Mhz for the 464/6128 Plus. The Arnold V specification indicates this is to give a better picture. This means the GX4000 is 0.25% slower than a 464 or 6128 Plus but should have a better picture.
* When a system cartridge is inserted (this has been verified with a yellow and a green labelled system cartridge), the copyright message and a Ready prompt is displayed. If the fire buttons or directions are pressed on the first digital joystick you see X,Z and the arrows displayed, the same as if you had pressed these buttons on a 464/6128 Plus or CPC. Pressing Pause displays "P".
== Specific Software for CPC+/GX4000 Accessing the Plus hardware improvements ==
==== Music software =System Cartridges ===
=== Pure CPC Plus demos ===
*[[It was so nice before the crash of the mir station|It was so nice before the crash of the mir station]] by [[Eliot|Eliot]]
*[[Kill Max]] by [[OFE|OFE]]
*[[Larsen|Larsen]] by [[OFE|OFE]]*[[Lumiere]] by [[Revival|Revival]]
*[[LiquidSnake|LiquidSnake]] by [[Revival|Revival]]
*[[Sappy|Sappy]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[Seminoisin|Seminoisin]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[Synergy|Synergy]] by [[Ast]] of [[Impact|Impact]]
*[[Tragedy|Tragedy]] by [[Ast]] of [[Impact|Impact]]
*[[Walking on a scroll|Walking on a scroll]] by [[BDC-Iron|BDC-Iron]]
*[[XMas 2008]] Dentro by [[Ast]] of [[Impact|Impact]]
* [[Samantha Fox Slideshow]] by [[Demoniak]]
* [[The 7th guest slideshow]] by [[Snn]]
* [[Amiga Graphics Plus]] compiled by [[Simon Green]]
== Games = Graphics ===
=== Cartridges released for the GX4000 Cartridge Games ===
* [[Barbarian 2 ( Cartridge )|Barbarian 2]]
* [[Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )|Batman The Movie]]
* [[Burnin' Rubber|Burning Rubber]]
* [[Chase HQ 2 ( Cartridge )|Chase HQ 2]]
* [[Copter 271 ( Cartridge )|Copter 271]]
* [[Crazy Cars 2 ( Cartridge )|Crazy Cars 2]]
* [[Pro Tennis Tour ( Cartridge )|Pro Tennis Tour]]
* [[Robocop 2 ( Cartridge )|Robocop 2]]
* [[Skeet Shoot]] (With Phazer) ( Cartridge )|Skeet Shoot]]
* [[Super Pinball Magic ( Cartridge )|Super Pinball Magic]]
* [[Switchblade ( Cartridge )|Switchblade]]
* [[World Of Sports ( Cartridge )|World Of Sports]]
==Vaporwares= Unofficial Cartridge Games ===
* [[Chase HQ 2 ( Cartridge )Blue Angel 69]]* [[Gazza II ( Cartridge )Puzznic]]* [[Stryker and the Crypts of Trogan]]
=== Non-cartridge Games patched for the Amstrad CPC Plus ===
* [[Aigle D'or: Le Retour]]* [[Best Of The Best]] - Championship Panza Gold Edition Karate/Kick Boxing Gold Edition ([[Loriciels]]) (1991)* [[Burger Party]] ([[Futur's]]) - horizontal shoot'em up* [[Bumpy's Arcade Fantasy]]* [[Call &BD10'n'oeuf]] ([[Fenyx Kell]]) - released for the Amstrad Expo 2005 Contest* [[DDay]]* [[Fluff]] ([[Radical Software]])* [[Frogger]] ([[Executioner]])* [[Jet Set Willy Plus - Manic Miner 3 Plus]] ([[Andy Cadley]]) - remakes of 3 CPC classics for the CPC Plus * [[Prehistorik 2]] ([[Titus Software]])* [[Space Gun]] ([[Ocean]])* [[Stryker and the Crypts of Trogan]] ([[Codemasters]]) - enhanced for Plus* [[Wildfire]] (Game in development for the CPC plus) === Games patched for the Plus === The following Amstrad CPC games have been patched for the Amstrad CPC Plus to take advantage of its extended colour palette. They are often disk versions that do not work on GX4000:
* [[Cybernoid II Plus]]
* [[FIFA World Cup 2006]] (- based on ''World Cup Soccer: Italia '90'')
* [[Solomon's Key Plus]]
* [[Operation Wolf Plus]]
* [[Rick dangerous 128%2B]] - Extended and enhanced for Plus
=== Vapourwares ===
Some games are said to have actually existed and even reviewed in some specialised press :
* [[:Category:Vaporware]]
=== Bootlegs ===
Lately (as of May 2007) several instances of bootleg ofbootleg cartridges have appeared. These are not original releases and, although they could run without any problems, caution should be exercised when buying. What is more, their collectible/historical value is doubtful. For more details, see [[Bootleg Cartridges]] and [http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html here]
== System = Modern Cartridges ===
== Included in Delivery ==
=== 464plus 464 Plus ===
* The computer itself, incl. including built-in Datacorder* [[Plus System Cartridge ]] with AMSDOSOperating System (the Plus series were actyakky the first Amstrad machines to have the OS on a removable medium, as opposed to on-chop built-in OSes; nevertheless, this was not that bad as cartidge loading is instantaneousv4), [[Locomotive BASIC 1]] v1.1 , [[AMSDOS]] and the game [[Burnin' Rubber]]
* 1 Paddle
* CPC464plus464 Plus/CPC6128plus 6128 Plus manual
* Game manual
* Either an [[Amstrad MM12 Monochrome Monitor]] or an [[Amstrad CM14 Colour Monitor]]
=== 6128plus 6128 Plus ===
* The computer itself, incl. including built-in 3" disk drive* [[Plus System Cartridge ]] with AMSDOS Operating System (the Plus series were actually the first Amstrad machines to have the OS on a removable medium, as opposed to on-chop built-in OSes; nevertheless, this was not that bad as cartidge loading is instantaneousv4), [[Locomotive BASIC 1]] v1.1 , [[AMSDOS]] and the game [[Burnin' Rubber]]
* [[System Disk]] with CP/M Plus and utilities, identical disk for all countries
* 1 Paddle
* 464plus464 Plus/6128plus 6128 Plus manual
* Game manual
* Either an [[Amstrad MM12 Monochrome Monitor]] or an [[Amstrad CM14 Colour Monitor]]
=== GX4000 ===
* The console itselfwhich included SCART and RF outputs for connection to a TV* [[Burnin' Rubber|Burning Rubber]]cartridge
* 2 Paddles
* Console manual
* Game manual
* Power supply 11v 500mA - -(o- +
Showing the GX4000 in action
{{#ev:youtube|T6oG7DRdBgI|300}}
25th Anniversary Special By Novabug with Guru Larry {{#ev:youtube|iWB6NRkjTmE|300}} Unboxing & Playtest by Novabug {{#ev:youtube|q8quohU5awY|300}} == Emulators for CPC the Plus ==
* [[Arnold]]
* [[WinApe]]
* [[MESS]]
* [[NO$CPC]]
* [[MTMW]]
== Weblinks ==
*[http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html Listing and pictures of Amstrad GX4000 games]
*[http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/carts.htm Complete list of GX 4000 games]
*http://www.thepixelempire.net/amstrad-gx4000-reviews.html - Reviews of the GX4000 titles
*http://www.thepixelempire.net/pixel-memories-amstrad-gx4000.html - A retrospective look at the console.
[[Category:Hardware| ]] [[Category:CPC Plus|CPC Plus]][[Category:Video contents]][[Category:CPC Internal Components| ]][[Category:CPC History|* ]][[Category:Non CPC Computers| ]][[Category:Amstrad Products| ]]
