Compukit UK101 core

[danielb]

Hi,

Here is a new test version.

There are now three machine types: UK101, OSI C2P and OSI C1P.

The last currently only runs Cegmon. Its screen is a 32x32 matrix, of which only the central 24x24 are in use. This is why games written specifically for it won't display properly on other systems.

A few games which didn't work before now run, such as Ridge Cruiser, Night Rider and Pinball.

If anybody would like to give this a try, please let me know if you find any bugs.

Thanks,

Daniel

[danielb]

Hi,

The new version with the OSI C1P mode is now official. I found and fixed a couple of GUI bugs since I posted the development version.

The OSI C1P, as I understand it, is actually identical to the Superboard II, which is the OSI machine that the Compukit UK101 was based on/ripped off from.

Also, this video gives a good demonstration of the C1P and C4P, which are more or less the two OSI models now contained in the core:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQUhFoB ... rryStewart

D.

[EeDee]

Hi
Thanks for the update. C1P (Superboard II as you mentioned) is working fine, no problems so far. I can't, however, get anything to load and run in C2P mode. Some programs work okay on WinOSI emulator with CEGMON and all appear to work with SYN600 but I don't seem to be able to get machine code or basic programs to load at all for some reason. What have I missed this time?

[EeDee]

An ammendum:
OSI Invaders doesn't load on WinOSI either

[danielb]

Hi,

To run OSI Invaders, go into C2P mode, then do a cold reset and start Basic, then do another reset, press "M" for the monitor, and load it.

This works on the new version of the core, the old version, WinOSI, and, I believe, the original hardware.

D.

[danielb]

One question about OSI Invaders.

On WinOSI, the text intro appears to be in 64-column mode, and then it seems to switch to 32 column mode for the game itself.

Could the OSI machines auto switch screen mode?

Also, there appears to have been a C1P version of OSU invaders:

https://trmusson.dreamhosters.com/c1p.html

Unfortunately I get "Access Denied" when I try to download it.


D.

[RedskullDC]

Hi Danielb, et al.

Could the OSI machines auto switch screen mode?

Yes.

Later models of the C1P had a control register at $D800 which controlled Screenmode, colour, Sound.
See page #77 of:
https://osiweb.org/manuals/C1P_Manual.pdf
That applies to Rev D Superboard, and the Challenger C1P Rev 2 (as far as I know?)

Larger systems: C2,3,4,8 have a similar control register at $DE00.
See page #27 of:
https://osiweb.org/manuals/c4man.pdf

Cheers,
Red

[danielb]

Thanks. I might have to do something about that...

D.

[danielb]

Another question occurs to me: Did the OSI machines have an external switch of some kind for changing screen mode (analogous to the menu option in the core) or was screen mode only controlled from software?

If the latter is true, then the core should really do the same for accuracy's sake.

D.

[EeDee]

Hi,

To run OSI Invaders, go into C2P mode, then do a cold reset and start Basic, then do another reset, press "M" for the monitor, and load it.

This works on the new version of the core, the old version, WinOSI, and, I believe, the original hardware.

D.

Thanks. Seeing the instructions everywhere now

Also, there appears to have been a C1P version of OSU invaders:

https://trmusson.dreamhosters.com/c1p.html

Unfortunately I get "Access Denied" when I try to download it.


D.

Seems you have to request a download

**The problem of getting Caterpillar to run seems to persist**

[danielb]

Unfortunately I get "Access Denied" when I try to download it.

D.

Seems you have to request a download

**The problem of getting Caterpillar to run seems to persist**

Hi,

Yes, I asked for access to the file.

Caterpillar is the only game that I can think of off-hand that doesn't run. I still have no idea why.

Maybe it peeks or pokes some hardware register that isn't supported in the core ...

D.

[EeDee]

Maybe it peeks or pokes some hardware register that isn't supported in the core ...

D.

Dunno

I have PRG files. Could PRG also be made loadable?

[danielb]

Maybe it peeks or pokes some hardware register that isn't supported in the core ...

D.

Dunno

I have PRG files. Could PRG also be made loadable?

No idea. On other systems, prg files are binary files that are injected directly into memory. Could you send me one so I can see what it is?

[RedskullDC]

Hi Danielb,

Did the OSI machines have an external switch of some kind for changing screen mode (analogous to the menu option in the core) or was screen mode only controlled from software?

In short, no, they didn't.

Some of the aftermarket graphics solutions did however.

Mittendorf HRG was all software.
The CUA Hires board had a manual switch on it I thin, but could be software controlled too.

Cheers,
Red

[danielb]

Thanks,

I think it might be nice to have software control over screen mode. Maybe, for the C2P, I should have "High/Low/Auto", which would be the best of both worlds.

Anyway, I was given access to the C1P version of OSIInvaders. It works very well on the core, and I even fixed it a bit, to get rid of a syntax error in the middle of loading, and to make it autorunning.

I asked if I can distribute the file on the forum, but have not heard back yet.

D.

[EeDee]

No idea. On other systems, prg files are binary files that are injected directly into memory. Could you send me one so I can see what it is?

Srub that. Took a closer look and they are not PRG's at all but text files with .prg extension

[danielb]

Hi,

I received permission to redistribute the OSI C1P version of OSI Invaders from its rescuer, Timothy Musson, so here it is.

D.

[danielb]

Hi,

I managed to get the automatic resolution switching to work in the C2P mode, so OSI Invaders is now an authentic C2P experience

I'll post a development version after I clean up the GUI, which always takes longer than the actual development...

D.

[EeDee]

I'll post a development version after I clean up the GUI, which always takes longer than the actual development...

D.

[EeDee]

Hi,

I received permission to redistribute the OSI C1P version of OSI Invaders from its rescuer, Timothy Musson, so here it is.

D.

Thanks for securing that. It all adds to the experience

[danielb]

Hi,

This test version has software control over screen resolution.

To see it work:

Choose OSI C2P, then set resolution to auto. It will default to low res.
Reset, to make sure the display variables are set properly.

POKE 56832,1 sets high res, POKE 56832,0 sets it back to low res.

Games which support this are OSI Invaders (the C2P version) and Pacdude, which has a high res intro screen, then switches to low res for the game.

Let me know how it works for you. Also, it would be easy to make it default to high res, which is the more authentic?

D.

[EeDee]

Hi
Thanks for the update. All working fine.
When it comes to authenticity and this series of machines I've given up. Just taking the additions as they come, and things are coming along nicely

[danielb]

Hi,

I made a version which defaults to high res, and this seems to work better. OSI Invaders and Pacdude both start off in high res and switch to low, and Defender switches to low before it starts. The emulator also defaults to high res, so that is what the release version will do.

D.

[danielb]

Software controlled screen mode is now "official".

After adding this feature, I now realise that ALL of the C2P machine-code games put themselves in the correct resolution before running.

D.

[EeDee]

Hi,

I made a version which defaults to high res, and this seems to work better. OSI Invaders and Pacdude both start off in high res and switch to low, and Defender switches to low before it starts. The emulator also defaults to high res, so that is what the release version will do.

D.

And UART is back!
Thanks

[danielb]

Hi,

I made a version which defaults to high res, and this seems to work better. OSI Invaders and Pacdude both start off in high res and switch to low, and Defender switches to low before it starts. The emulator also defaults to high res, so that is what the release version will do.

D.

And UART is back!
Thanks

Which is odd because I haven't changed it in any way, or even checked it yet ...

D.

[EeDee]

Which is odd because I haven't changed it in any way, or even checked it yet ...

D.

Oh!

[EeDee]

Which is odd because I haven't changed it in any way, or even checked it yet ...

D.

Oh!

Nothing wrong with it. I systematically neglected to select "Load programs from: UART" despite constantly messing around with the settings

[danielb]

We've all done iit.....

[EeDee]

Hi
Think I've mentioned this before but not sure if I found an example. The SYN600 was a ROM used for the C1,C2,C4,C8

SYN600.zip

(1.21 KiB) Downloaded 221 times

Any use? Will it work do you think?