The Coleco Adam is a Home Computer, and expansion for the ColecoVision (port 3), released in 1983 by American toy manufacturer Coleco. It was an attempt to follow on the success of the company’s ColecoVision video game console. The Adam was not very successful, partly because of early production problems, and was orphaned in early 1985.

Coleco announced the Adam at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in June 1983, and executives predicted sales of 500,000 by Christmas 1983. From the time of the computer’s introduction to the time of its shipment, the price increased, from USD $525 to $725.

Coleco’s 1983 announcement of the Adam received favorable press coverage. The Boston Phoenix, observing that the computer’s $600 price was comparable to the lowest price for a letter-quality printer alone, stated “a nice trick if they can do it!” It was, in fact, a trick; the computers were shown behind tinted glass that hid the fact that they were hand-made and had non-working tape drives.

In June the company promised to ship the computer by August. In August it promised to ship a half million Adams by Christmas, but missed shipping dates of 1 September, 15 September, 1 October, and 15 October. Ahoy! reported that Coleco had not shipped by early October because of various problems. Each month of delay could mean losing the opportunity to sell 100,000 units, the magazine reported, adding that missing the Christmas season would result in “inestimable losses”. The company only shipped 95,000 units by December, which were very defective; Creative Computing later reported that “the rumored return rate was absolutely alarming”. One store manager stated that five of six sold Adams had been returned, and expected that the sixth would likely be returned after being opened on Christmas. Coleco partnered with Honeywell Information Systems to open up repair chain stores around the nation. By December 1983 the press reported that company executives at a news conference “fielded questions about Coleco’s problems with its highly-publicized new Adam home computer, which has been plagued by production delays and complaints of defects”, with the company only able to fulfill one third of its Canadian orders for Christmas. Less than 10% of Adam units had defects, the company claimed, “well below industry standards”.

Gallery:

Gallery (Cleaning the Keyboard):

Gallery (The big Box & Under the Cover):

12►

Adam ColecoVision Video (Daisy-wheel Printer Test / Tape Loading / Game Cartridge):

source: wikipedia

CBM prg Studio Version 3.3.0 is released. There are a lot of new features in this version. I’d really appreciate it if you report any bugs you find or have any suggestions/comments.

CBM prg Studio allows you to type a BASIC or Machine Code program in using a nice Windows environment and convert it to a ‘.prg’ file which you can run on an emulator, or even a real C64 / VIC20 or PET if you’re feeling brave and have the right kit.

CBM prg Studio is the result of merging C64PrgGen and VIC20PrgGen. Adding new features and fixing bugs in two apps which were 95% similar was a bit of a nightmare so merging them made sense.

It was also a good opportunity for a face lift and to add some new features, such as:

• Programs are project based, meaning all related source files, sprite files etc. are kept in one place and multiple source files can be linked more easily.
• Tabbed MDI.
• Syntax highlighting.

What CBM prg Studio isn’t is a front-end for tok64, cbmcnvrt, bastext or any other tokeniser / detokeniser / assembler. It’s all been written completely from scratch.

Improvements:

• Sprite Editor:
  • Add background picture to sprite editor.
  • Sprite reorder tool.

• Character Editor:
  • Character tools work on a range of characters.

• Assembler:
  • Import binary as decimal data
  • Improved value pop-up formatting
  • Removed the restriction where files included in a build must have a name when building the project as a batch.

• BASIC:
  • Code reformatting remove zeros from DATA statements.
  • Option to ignore invalid GOTO destinations.

Bug Fixed:

• Assembler:
  • Reformatting code with TEXT directive.
  • Using * with labels.
  • Wrong rules for ifdef when variable is zero.
  • Debugger problems with X and Y indexing, stack under/overflow, SBC, RTI, BRK.
  • Incbin problems with large files.

• BASIC:
  • Output to disk image generating basic programs.
  • ‘Save File As’ only saving BASIC files.
  • Commenting blank lines.

• Character Editor:
  • Wrong colours changed on the character editor for VIC20 projects.
  • Undoing character editor changes when the character index > 127.

• Sprite Editor:
  • Scratchpad exception when using deleted sprites.

• General:
  • Syntax colouring changes not applied properly until restart.
  • Some BASIC only tools were available to the assembler.

Download: CBM prg Studio v3.3.0 (1086)

source: ajordison.co.uk

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Onslaught / Offence / Vandalism News Staff, bring to you the 64th issue of the Vandalism News.

Download: Vandalism News #64 (1570)

source: csdb.dk

This is the official demo party results from Flashback 2015 (Top 3 Entries only). See also the CSDB Flashback 2015 section for more informations and download.

C64 Demo:

• Stupid Bitmap and Scroll [party version] by Duck and Chicken    
• Reborn Intro by Onslaught
• Edelin Tales Theme [3sid] by Samar Productions

C64 Music:

• Urban Canyon Cruising by MultiStyle Labs, Toondichters
• Head Around You by Artline Designs    
• Flashback – part 1 of 4stori3s by Finnish Gold

C64 Graphics:

• xklmychn! by Onslaught
• Secrets from the Onslaught Demolabs by Onslaught
• Fingers of Doom

Download: Flashback 2015 full Party stuff (1299)

source: csdb.dk

Defect:

• The backup system not using correctly the on-board memory and don’t load any games.

Diagnosis/Repair:

• Broken pcb track under the GAL (position U9). The battery acid has corroded some pcb tracks.
• GAL (position U9) completely dead.

Note1:

• The glitches on the screen that you see in the photo are caused by a failure on my Super Famicom. I have to fix it. ;-D

Note2:

• I don’t have the .JED code of the GAL and however i have sold many years ago my PAL/GAL programmer so i cannot replace the faulty component.

Download:

• Super Wildcard 2.8CC ROM & 2 x GAL16V8 (462)
• Super Wildcard DX (EPROM & EEPROM DUMP) (592)

Microprofessor II (MPF II), introduced in 1982, was Multitech’s (later renamed Acer) second branded computer product and also one of the earliest Apple II clones. It does not look like most other computers. The case of the MPF II was a slab with a small chiclet keyboard on its lower part.

In 1983, the Multiprofessor II retailed in the UK for £269.00 including VAT.

One key feature of the MPF II was its Chinese BASIC, a version of Chinese-localized BASIC based on Applesoft BASIC. There was also a version sold in Europe that did not have Chinese localization.

Differences to Apple II:

The MPF II was not totally compatible with the Apple II.

The MPF II did not have Apple II’s text mode. All the text was drawn on the screen by software rather than generated by hardware. It was the only cost-effective way to generate Chinese text on screen at a time when a hardware-based Chinese character generator could cost hundreds of U.S. dollars.

Like Apple II, MPF II had two graphics buffers. However the second buffer was at address A000H while with Apple II it was at 4000H. The keyboard input was mapped to a different address than the Apple II making impossible to play Apple’s games on the MPF II.

MPF-II keyboard interface was very simple and consisted of an 8 bit output port and an input port that were directly connected to keyboard matrix. The Apple joystick interface was not there, and instead the joystick appeared as a keyboard with arrow keys and two other buttons.

The external slot interface was also not compatible with the Apple II and could not use many standard interface cards including the Disk II controller.

Technical information:

• CPU: MOS Technology 6502
• Clock rate: 1 MHz
• RAM: 64 KB (including 16KB RAM mapped at the same address as the ROM)
• ROM: 16 KB (12 KB of which is a BASIC interpreter)
• Text modes: 40×24 (using graphics mode)
• Graphics modes: 280×192
• Colours: 8 colours
• Sound: 1 channel of 1-bit sound
• Connectors: Keyboard, Printer, Expansion port, cassette recorded input and output, Composite and TV-out
• Optional peripherals: 55 key full-size keyboard, Floppy disc drive, Thermal and Dot-matrix printers, Joystick
• Power supply: External PSU, 5,12V

Multitech Micro-Professor MPF-II – PapaTudo (Pacman Clone) by Microsoft:

Gallery:

12►

Powersupply Pinout:

Multitech Micro-Professor MPF-II Loading TK-2000 Game:

source: wikipedia mpf-ii.blogspot.it TK-2000 games download

Atari The Educator

The package includes:

• Basic Cartridge.
• Software & State Capital software on tape.
• The Program Recorder Atari 410.

Download: Atari Educator Owners Guide (1820)

Atari 1025 80-Column Printer

Printer Specifications:

• 40 cps (80-column 10 cpi mode)
• 5 cpi expanded (40 col), 10 cpi (80 col), 16.7 cpi condensed (132-col)
• 5×7 character dot matrix.
• Buffer: 132 chrs at 16.7 cpi, 80 chrs at 10 cpi.
• Paper: roll,fanfold,single sheets. optional:roll paper holder, tractor feed.

Atari 1030 Modem

With the introduction of Atari all new XL line of computers came the all new Atari 1030 direct connect modem. The modem had a very unique feature packed into it. Just like the Atari 850 interface, the Atari 1030 modem had not only its device driver in ROM which would automatically upload into the computers memory, but also its software as well.

The Atari 1030 came with an on-board software package called ModemLink which would automatically upload into the computers memory. However there was a catch, like all previous Atari software, ModemLink had no provisions for Uploading or Downloading software, also in order to use the on-board ModemLink software any disk drives that were connected to your system had to be turned OFF.

Later Atari 1030′s were packaged with “The New Atari 1030 Software Package” which was a diskette with Amodem, Tscope and DiskLink software. Amodem was written by Jim Steinbrecher of Atari telecom fame, Tscope was written by Joe Miller and was for use with Compuserve.

Gallery:

source: atarimuseum.com

Relaunch64 is an IDE (text-editor) for C64 assembler-coding on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Relaunch64 has a clean and intuitive user interface, yet it offers many features that make coding faster and easier.

Java 7 or higher is required to run Relaunch64. The program is licensed under the GNU GPL 3 (or higher) and free for private and professional use.

This editor works together with common cross assemblers like Kick Assembler, ACME, or 64tass. Other assemblers might work as well, but syntax highlighting may not be 100% correct.

Download: Relaunch64 v3.3.3 (Windows/OSx/Linux) (1301)

source: popelganda.de

Some new games or tools (Cracked / Trained or Unrealeased) for Commodore 64 have been released from your favorites groups.

Titles:

• Kim Pong – the Fair and Democratic Tele-Football
• Congo Bongo +5DG
• Kim Pong +
• Boonderoo +4
• Unnamed Dice Game Preview
• Pole Position +3HD
• Mickey’s Space Adventure +DFS
• On the Farm 2 +36D [crazy hack]
• Outlaw
• Pixel Pix Preview +
• Rent a Cop +36D [crazy hack]
• Ultima IV Remastered V2.2
• Break 64
• Break 64 +2
• Code-Woord +D
• Shamai – Return of the Myths [seuck]
• Naait Raaider [seuck]
• T-UFO [seuck]
• Scoff [seuck]
• Payback Time [seuck]
• The Ocean Ninja [seuck]
• Snowbots +2ED
• Armageddon HS
• META14 [seuck]
• Aztec Challenge MBSDH [crazy hack]
• Hector’s Mansion +
• The Marlo Files – Remastered Edition

Download: All Games in One Archive (3367)

source: csdb.dk

Explanation of how it work the program “RAM3_RAMFAIL_BAS” written by Dominic Brown in the 1990 in Super Basic for the Sinclair QL which is used to calculate what the RAM on the Sinclair QL is broken, you need to use the MINERVA ROM (RAM PassCheck).

I tried to explain how it work and i have rewrote the software in a “language” a bit more modern ;-D

MINERVA OUTPUT EXAMPLE:

——————————————
WRITE: 5 4 8 C 4 8 7 8
READ: 5 C C D 5 C C D
ADDRESS: 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0
——————————————

HEX WRITE: 54 8C 48 78
HEX READ:  5C CD 5C CD

Convert the numbers in decimal:

DECIMAL WRITE: 84 140 72 120
DECIMAL READ:  92 205 92 205

You have to make a xor in pairs (write & read)

XOR: 84 XOR 92 = 8
XOR: 140 XOR 205 = 65
XOR: 72 XOR 92 = 20
XOR: 120 XOR 205 = 181

Now you need to do an OR with the result of the XOR starting with “0″ and continuing with the result of every OR

OR: 0 OR 8 = 8
OR: 8 OR 65 = 73
OR: 73 OR 20 = 93
OR: 93 OR 181 = 253

Convert the final result of the OR in Binary.

DECIMAL: 253
HEX: FD
BINARY: 11111101

Follow the table to find the faulty ram. Pay attention to the memory address.

1: BAD Ram
0: GOOD Ram

BINARY = 1     1     1     1     1     1     0     1

IF < $30000 (ADDRESS) = IC8  ,IC7  ,IC6  ,IC5  ,IC4  ,IC3  ,IC2  ,IC1

IF > $30000 (ADDRESS) = IC16 ,IC15 ,IC14 ,IC13 ,IC12 ,IC11 ,IC10 ,IC9

IF > $40000 Faulty ram is in expansion memory.

The Original Program (ram3_ramfail.bas) was written for the SINCLAIR QL in SUPER BASIC language by Dominic Brown (1990).
Documentation of how it work by Xad/Nightfall (2015).
Thanks to my friend for the support.

Faulty Ram Decoder Changelog:

• v0.1: First Release.
• v0.2: Added a message (Faulty ram is in expansion memory) if the Address > $40000.

Faulty Ram Decoder Online: http://www.nightfallcrew.com/minervaram

Download:

• Faulty Ram Decoder v0.1 PHP Script (1088)
• Faulty Ram Decoder v0.2 PHP Script (1119)

Javatari is now Javatari.js! The emulator has been completely rewritten, and is now 100% in HTML5 and Javascript.

Javatari.js is a multiplayer Atari 2600 emulator written in pure Javascript/HTML5 with no external libs.

Features and Highlights:

• Javatari is now on HTML5/JS! No more need for the Java Plugin.
• Runs in any modern Web Browser. Tested in Chrome and Firefox.
• Real Atari Console user interface.
• All major ROM formats supported.
• Save and load Game States easily, or create a Save Game file.
• Support for Keyboard and Gamepad controllers.
• Full Screen mode.

New in version 0.91:

• Keyboard controls now configurable!
• Starpath/Arcadia ROM format support.
• Full Screen mode bugfix.
• Paddle analog control with Gamepad controllers.
• Audio now mutes when browser tab is not visible.
• Better auto launch mechanism.

Download: Javatari.js v0.91 (2369)

source: javatari.org

Gallery:

The HP-67 was a magnetic card-programmable handheld calculator, introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1976 at an MSRP of $450. A desktop version with built-in thermal printer was sold as the HP-97 at a price of $750.

Marketed as improved successors to the HP-65, the HP-67/97 were based on the technology of the “20-series” of calculators (HP-25, HP-19C etc.) introduced a year earlier. The two models are functionally equivalent, and programs on magnetic cards can be interchanged between them.

Features:

The 67/97 provide a complete set of scientific, statistical and engineering operations, including trigonometrical, logarithmic and exponential functions, coordinate conversions, average/deviation etc.

The HP-67/97 series featured a program memory of 224 eight-bit words. The two extra bits per word compared to the HP-65′s six allowed the designers to store any program instruction in a single memory cell (“fully merged keycodes”) even if it required multiple keystrokes to enter (see image). Programs could include 20 labels, subroutines (3 levels deep), four flag registers, 8 comparison functions, and extended index and loop control functions.

At 15 digits, the display was wider than those of the predecessor models, although the decimal point was displayed on its own digit position. The HP-67 keys carry up to four functions each, accessed through “f”, “g” and “h” prefix keys (gold, blue and black labels, respectively). The model 97 had more (and larger) keys, therefore only two functions were assigned to each key. When interchanging magnetic cards between the HP-67 and the HP-97, the calculators’ software took care of converting the key codes, and emulated the 97′s print functions through the 67′s display.

The HP-67 is powered by a pack of three AA-sized nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries. Owing to the power requirements of the built-in thermal printer, the HP-97 employs a larger battery pack and more powerful charger.

Memory and programming:

Of the 26-register data memory, the first ten (“primary registers”) could be accessed directly, ten more as an alternate register set, and the remaining six had special functions for statistical operations and as an index register. Using the latter, a program could access all 26 registers as a single indexed array. Data memory is not permanent as in later models, i.e. register contents and program are lost when powering off.

The built-in magnetic card reader/writer could be used to save programs and data, with the ability to combine data from multiple cards. The same magnetic card format was later used for the HP-41C which offered compatibility to the 67/97 through software in the card reader. HP offered a library of programs supplied on packs of pre-recorded magnetic cards for many applications including surveying, medicine, as well as civil and electrical engineering.

In addition to software and support from HP, an active user community supported the HP67/97 as well as the other HP programmables of the era. The group was called PPC and produced the PPC Journal. One of the notable contributions of the group was the development of a “Blackbox” that allowed pseudo-alphanumeric displays.

Gallery (Before cleaning):

Gallery (Replacement Drive wheel & Battery):

Gallery (Under the Cover):

Download:

• Hewlett-Packard HP-97 Journal 1976 (1993)
• Hewlett-Packard HP-97 Service Manual (2859)

source: wikipedia.com hpmuseum.org

For this donation i thank: Andrea C. from Trieste.

The Sharp PC-1360 is a small pocket computer manufactured by Sharp. it can also be considered as an electronic calculator.

The PC-1360 was introduced in 1987 and was used by engineers, and favored by programmers for its decent programming and graphical capabilities. It was the top model of the (very small, only two models) 13XX series. It has a LCD display with four lines, also the SC61860 CPU, two RAM extension slot which work with the cynox RAM cards, a 15 pin serial interface and also a powerful BASIC. This is the best models for graphic applications.

Gallery:

source: computinghistory.org.uk

For this donation i thank: Paolo Cognetti from Roma.

This is a 3rd generation pong color system. It uses the usual 10 games cartridge: Tennis, Hockey, Squash, Practice, Soccer, Basketball, Basketball Practice, Gridball, Traget 1 & 2.

You can find this system everywhere in Europe though it´s origin once was Hongkong. This is a color variant sold by Irradio in Italy.

Gallery:

source: pong-picture-page.de