For some reason we've never added support for the Colecovision. I'm not sure why since it's a pretty off-the-shelf sort of hardware:
* CPU: Z80 @ 3.579 Mhz
* VDP: TMS9918, 16k VRAM
* PSG: SN76489
* RAM: 1k
* ROM: 8k
It's now been added, input support is via joystick() which also supports the Colecovision keypads - see https://github.com/z88dk/z88dk/wiki/Pla ... lecovision for details.
The MSX library is available which should allow for a fair bit of portability.
(classic) New target: Colecovision
Yeah, there's a couple of Hitech C ones, Philipp's sdcc one and now Rafael's MSX one that's in z88dk
I think it makes sense for the all the VDP targets to have the same API - why write for one platform when you can get 10 at the same time?
The next machine I'm currently working on is proving tricky - I can't find any 3rd party software for it, nor much in the way of documentation. I think only about 1000 of them were made so there's not even a wikipedia entry. On the other hand, I think I figured out how to load and execute code should I figure out the file format.
I think RobertK will love it if I can get it to work...
I think it makes sense for the all the VDP targets to have the same API - why write for one platform when you can get 10 at the same time?
The next machine I'm currently working on is proving tricky - I can't find any 3rd party software for it, nor much in the way of documentation. I think only about 1000 of them were made so there's not even a wikipedia entry. On the other hand, I think I figured out how to load and execute code should I figure out the file format.
I think RobertK will love it if I can get it to work...
But there's a manual online for the Alphatronic! That just makes it too easy.
It doesn't look too tricky to actually add support for:
- a character mapped display tucked away at the top of memory (so generic_console will work)
- Mame has the keyboard mappings defined (so inkey() is easy)
- basck does a good job of extracting information from the Microsoft BASIC
The main difficulty would probably be generating a file in a format that can be loaded by an emulator.
I've raised https://github.com/z88dk/z88dk/issues/830 to track this. Not sure when I'll get time to take a look at it though.
It doesn't look too tricky to actually add support for:
- a character mapped display tucked away at the top of memory (so generic_console will work)
- Mame has the keyboard mappings defined (so inkey() is easy)
- basck does a good job of extracting information from the Microsoft BASIC
The main difficulty would probably be generating a file in a format that can be loaded by an emulator.
I've raised https://github.com/z88dk/z88dk/issues/830 to track this. Not sure when I'll get time to take a look at it though.
Back to the Colecovision target...
It was definitively working in one of the earlier nightly builds (I had the demo mode of my game already running).
It seems to affect only the Colecovision target, on the Multi8 and Aquarius there is no such problem.
Here is a c_plot() test quickly added to my plot test program.
Having said that, I found out that c_plot() no longer works correctly on that target: the plotted points only appear in the top left area (56 x 48) of the screen.RobertK wrote:BTW, I have already tried c_plot() and c_point() on the Colecovision and it works great, thank you.
It was definitively working in one of the earlier nightly builds (I had the demo mode of my game already running).
It seems to affect only the Colecovision target, on the Multi8 and Aquarius there is no such problem.
Here is a c_plot() test quickly added to my plot test program.
Code: Select all
/* plot(), Unplot() and Point() Test by RobertK, 2018-07-07
Compile command for the following targets:
=== ZX81 (64?48) === (ok)
zcc +zx81 -startup=2 -Cz--disable-autorun -o plottest_ZX81 -create-app plottest.c
=== ZX80 (64?48) === (ok)
zcc +zx80 -o plottest_ZX80 -create-app plottest.c
Note: point() function was not working yet for this system
with 1.99B (calling it made the program crash), since nightly
build 2018-03-22 it works correctly.
=== Jupiter Ace (64x48) === (ok)
zcc +ace -lgfxace -clib=ansi -vn -create-app plottest.c -o pt.bin
Note: with 1.99B plotted points could not be seen, and the
point() function returned inverse values -> fixed since nightly
build 2018-03-28 (-lgfxace option added by Stefano for 64x48)
Last remaining issue: clearing the screen does not clear the
bottom line. Workaround: compiling with the paramter -clib=ansi for
VT100 ANSI mode solves the problem.
Load the program on the Jupiter Ace by typing:
0 0 bload pt.bin
=== Galaksija (64?48) === (ok)
zcc +gal -vn -create-app plottest.c -o plottest_galaksija.bin
Note: on the Galaksija computer type OLD to load a program from cassette.
=== VZ200 / Laser 210 / Laser 110 (128?64) === (ok)
zcc +vz -lm -pragma-redirect=fputc_cons=putc4x6 -o plottest_vz200.vz plottest.c
Note from the z88dk wiki: "The graphics mode is automatically switched on
by calling ?clg? or printing CHR$ 12 or calling the vz_mode() function."
We use clg() in this example.
Works correctly since nightly build 2018-03-31. Stefano:
"The VZ200. Its "operating system" (aka BASIC interpreter) is designed to switch
back to text mode as soon as a character is being printed.
After this nightly build you should have a new function in all the mid and low-rez
graphics drivers permitting to output some text in graphics mode.
You just need to add the following parameter in your zcc command line:"
-pragma-redirect=fputc_cons=putc4x6
=== TRS-80 (128?48) === (ok)
zcc +trs80 -lndos -lm -create-app -o plottest_trs80.bin -subtype=disk plottest.c
Clearing the screen does not work with 1.99B, since nightly build 2018-03-24
this works as well. Use the HT1080Z emulator for testing (select "Autostart file"
and open the .cmd file)
=== Robotron Z1013 (64?64) === (ok)
zcc +z1013 -lm -create-app plottest.c -o plottest_z1013
Note: top line (plotted pixel at 1,1) was not visible with 1.99B,
since nightly build 2018-03-22 it works correctly.
=== Robotron Z9001 (80x48) === (almost ok)
zcc +z9001 -lm -lgfx9001 -o plottest_z9001 -create-app plottest.c
or
zcc +z9001 -lm -lgfx9001 -subtype=kcc -o plottest_z9001 -create-app plottest.c
Use JKCEMU for testing, there you can run either a .TAP or a .KCC file.
Note: combining -lgfx9001 and -clib=ansi...
zcc +z9001 -lm -lgfx9001 -clib=ansi -o plottest_z9001_ansi -create-app plottest.c
...works only on monochrome systems (on colour machines, characters cannot be
seen and plotted points are partly invisible)
=== Philips VG5000 (80?72) === (ok)
zcc +vg5k -create-app -clib=graphics -lm plottest.c -o plottest_vg5000
Note: In 1.99B plot() function displayed " characters instead of pixels.
New compile option -clib=graphics added since nightly build 2018-03-31.
Use the DCVG5K emulator (dcvg5k.free.fr) for testing
Attach the .k7 cassette file and type CLOAD to load the program
(note that the VG5000 has a French AZERTY keyboard so on most
other keyboard layouts you have to type CLOQD)
=== Mattel Aquarius (80?48) === (ok)
zcc +aquarius -lm -create-app plottest.c -o plottest_aquarius
Note: Everything works, except for that plotted pixels are not
all the same size. In the plot test the second pixel looks ok
while the first and third are too flat.
Stefano: "I saw a comment about odd pixels on the Mattel Aquarius.
Sadly there is very little we can do for it, the character set is
so fancy and unbalanced. The bottom right pixel in a 2x3 matrix is
totally missing while the bottom-right pixel in a 2x2 matrix is
repeated twice, this is something I really can't understand because
the font was accurately overloaded of any kind of different symbol
and a duplicate like this is very odd (chr 26 = chr 224).
By the way I added a graphics variant [in nightly build 2018-03-29]:
just use '-lgfxaq48' to bend your graphics resolution from 64x72
to 64x48 [should be 80x48], they are both compatible with the text mode."
-> looks good now, the plotted pixels are all the same size now
Use the "Virtual Aquarius" emulator for testing. Loading
instructions from the z88dk wiki:
from within the emulator, load the loader: cload
press ENTER twice, then play the ?_plottest_aquarius.caq? cassette file (loader)
at the ?OK? prompt, type RUN <ENTER>
press ENTER twice, then play the ?plottest_aquarius.caq? cassette file
wait? then have fun !
=== Sharp MZ-700 (80?50) === (ok)
zcc +mz -lm -create-app plottest.c -o plottest_sharpmz
Note: clearing the screen does not work in 1.99B, fixed since
nightly build 2018-03-29
In M.A.M.E. attach The .mzt cassette file, then press L and Enter
to initiate loading, then use M.A.M.E.'s tape control to start the tape.
=== EG2000 (160?100) === (probably ok)
zcc +trs80 -lndos -lm -create-app -subtype=eg2000disk -pragma-redirect=fputc_cons=putc4x6 -o plottest_eg2000.bin plottest.c
Note: plotted points could not be seen with 1.99B. New compile option
-pragma-redirect=fputc_cons=putc4x6 added in nightly build 2018-04-05.
Use the Genieous emulator (gaia.atilia.eu) for testing. See the TRS-80
loading instructions above (use "Autostart file" after entering SYSTEM).
=== Philips P2000 (78?72) === (ok)
zcc +p2000 -pragma-redirect=fputc_cons=putc4x6 -o plottest_p2000g -create-app -lm plottest.c
M.A.M.E. (tested with 0.170 and 0.196) does not allow to load software on that system.
Tested with the M2000 emulator for DOS (in DOSBox), use the -tape <filename> option to
attach the .cas file, load it with "cload" and then type "run".
Stefano: "text and graphics cannot be mixed on the P2000. As on the vg5000 it uses the same
videochip designed for the "TELETEXT" TV service (known in Italy as TELEVIDEO), later adopted
also by the French "MINITEL" (known in Italy as "VIDEOTEL", or "PRESTEL" in the UK).
It works on a text row base, where a first control character determines the output mode for
the whole text row (e.g. TEXT versus GRAPHICS). The Graphics mode is just a different font
configured for the well known blocky low resolution.
So.. you can still try to apply some target specific trick to force text or graphics
content on selected rows (I could provide a clg variant acting on a single row specified),
or you try to fit the new 4x6 font mode."
-> 4x6 parameter added to the compile command above.
Everything works correctly since nightly build 2018-04-20.
=== Casio PV-1000 (56x48) === (ok)
zcc +pv1000 -o plottest_pv1000 -create-app plottest.c
=== Exidy Sorcerer (128x60) === (ok)
zcc +srr -lm -lndos -o plottest_sorcerer -create-app plottest.c -Cz--audio
Note: in MAME, insert the WAV cassette file, type LO to start loading, and then GO 0100 to run the program.
Issues:
- Pixels are not all the same size (probably a system feature that we will have to live with)
- Bottom line of the border (at y coordinate 89) cannot be seen
- Plotting over a character results in the letter "z" instead of the pixel being displayed
-> all fixed since nightly build 2018-06-27 (graphics screen resolution was 128x90 until then)
=== Triumph-Adler Alphatronic PC (80x72) === (ok)
zcc +alphatro plottest.c -create-app -o plottest_alphatronic
Use MAME for testing and run the created .rom file
=== Samsung SPC-1000 (64x32) === (ok)
zcc +spc1000 plottest.c -create-app -o plottest_scp1000
Select "Basic" (not CP/M) on startup
Type "load" to load the program
=== Mitsubishi Multi8 (640x200) ===
zcc +multi8 plottest.c -create-app -o plottest_multi8 -pragma-redirect:CRT_FONT=_font_8x8_bbc_system
Note: use Takeda Emulator http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/multi8/ for testing
(extract the three files from the MAME rom set multi8.zip into the emulator directory)
Use Menu "CMT" to insert the .cas file and then type...
MON
R
GC000
...to load and run the program
Issues:
- clearing the screen does not work
=== Colecovision (256x192) === (ok)
zcc +coleco plottest.c -create-app -o plottest_coleco
Note: use c_plot() and c_point() which generate pseudo-low-res graphics
by plotting 4x4 pixel blocks (giving a 64x48 resolution on this system)
=== ABC80 (78?72) === (still to be tested)
zcc +abc80 -lm -o plottest_abc80 -create-app plottest.c
Note from z88dk Wiki: "The pseudo graphics mode is supported. You first
need to issue a clg () command to set up the graphics page."
.BAC or .BAS file can be quickloaded and listed in M.A.M.E., but cannot be run
=== Nascom (96?48) === (still to be tested)
zcc +nascom -lm -o plottest_nascom -create-app plottest.c
(.nas file can be successfully loaded in M.A.M.E. in
both Nascom 1 and Nascom 2, but what to do next?)
*/
#include <stdio.h> // required for printf()
#include <graphics.h> // contains plot() and point() functions
void main()
{
int x,y;
int xMax, yMax;
// determine the screen dimensions for this system
// coordinates go from 0 to this max value
xMax=getmaxx();
yMax=getmaxy();
printf("%c",12); // clear the screen
printf("\n\n\n\n\n*** plot test (%d x %d) ***\n\n",xMax+1,yMax+1);
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("plotting and unplotting...\n\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("press any key to plot and unplot\n\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
#if defined(__ABC80__) || defined(__EG2000__) || defined(__SORCERER__) || defined(__VZ200__) || defined(__VG5000__) || defined(__P2000__) || defined(__MULTI8__)
clg(); // activate graphics mode
#elif defined(__VZ200__) || defined(__VG5000__) || defined(__P2000__) || defined(__SPC1000__)
printf("%c",12); // we clear the screen...
printf("\n\n",12); // ...and move a little down because otherwise the huge 4x6 letters wouldn't fit on the screen
#endif
#if defined(__SPC1000__)
printf("\n\n",12); // move down two more lines
#endif
plot(1,1);
plot(3,3);
plot(40,4);
plot(5,5);
unplot(5,5);
plot(7,7);
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("point-checking...\n\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("press any key to point-check\n\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
printf("point(3,3) (plotted) is %d\n",point(3,3)); // should be 1
printf("point(40,4) (plotted) is %d\n",point(40,4)); // should be 1
printf("point(5,5) (unplotted) is %d\n",point(5,5)); // should be 0
printf("point(10,10) (blank) is %d\n",point(10,10)); // should be 0
// check if the screen dimensions for this platform have been defined above
if (xMax>0 && yMax>0)
{
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("\ndrawing border...\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("\npress any key to draw border\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
for (x = 0; x <=xMax; ++x)
{
plot(x,yMax);
plot(x,0);
}
for (y = 1; y <=yMax; ++y)
{
plot(0,y);
plot(xMax,y);
}
}
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("\nclearing screen...\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("\npress any key to clear screen\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
printf("%c",12); // clear the screen
xMax=xMax/4;
yMax=yMax/4;
printf("\n\n\n\n\n*** c_plot test (%d x %d) ***\n\n",xMax+1,yMax+1);
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("c_plotting and c_unplotting...\n\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("press any key to c_plot and c_unplot\n\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
#if defined(__ABC80__) || defined(__EG2000__) || defined(__SORCERER__) || defined(__VZ200__) || defined(__VG5000__) || defined(__P2000__) || defined(__MULTI8__)
clg(); // activate graphics mode
#elif defined(__VZ200__) || defined(__VG5000__) || defined(__P2000__) || defined(__SPC1000__)
printf("%c",12); // we clear the screen...
printf("\n\n",12); // ...and move a little down because otherwise the huge 4x6 letters wouldn't fit on the screen
#endif
#if defined(__SPC1000__)
printf("\n\n",12); // move down two more lines
#endif
c_plot(1,1);
c_plot(3,3);
c_plot(18,4);
c_plot(5,5);
c_unplot(5,5);
c_plot(7,7);
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("c_point-checking...\n\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("press any key to c_point-check\n\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
printf("c_point(3,3) (plotted) is %d\n",c_point(3,3)); // should be 1
printf("c_point(18,4) (plotted) is %d\n",c_point(18,4)); // should be 1
printf("c_point(5,5) (unplotted) is %d\n",c_point(5,5)); // should be 0
printf("c_point(10,10) (blank) is %d\n",c_point(10,10)); // should be 0
// check if the screen dimensions for this platform have been defined above
if (xMax>0 && yMax>0)
{
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("\ndrawing border...\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("\npress any key to draw border\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
for (x = 0; x <=xMax; ++x)
{
c_plot(x,yMax);
c_plot(x,0);
}
for (y = 1; y <=yMax; ++y)
{
c_plot(0,y);
c_plot(xMax,y);
}
}
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
printf("\nclearing screen...\n");
msleep(3000);
#else
printf("\npress any key to clear screen\n");
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
printf("%c",12); // clear the screen
printf("done.\n");
#if defined(__PV1000__) || defined(__COLECO__)
msleep(3000);
#else
fgetc_cons(); // wait for keypress
#endif
}
