ahh, now if Simcoupe works on the Raspberry Pi... :-D sure, there's
nothing like using the real thing, but I'd definitely have to build
myself a mini-SAM emulator, even if only for portability! Hmmm...
visions of a SAMtop spring to mind...
I keep checking those sites for the Pi, but to be honest, I'm starting
to wonder what's happening with it. It had great momentum, and then
just when things are about ready, the two companies who were to
exclusively release it stop things in their tracks?
It's obviously just the conspiracy theorist in me, but I remember all
the mentions about how the Pi would be used in oppressed countries for
cheap and secure communications... And I can't help wondering if some
'behind the scenes' pressure has been used to slow things down and
make it lose the momentum it had. Or even just from technology
companies at the prospect of something so cheap but effective that
could potentially damage the market for expensive lower end gadgets.
(I mean, picture how many extremely cheap home-made netbook kits could
be released on ebay, with Pi's at their core and cheap keyboards and
screens) Orrrr maybe I've just read too many conspiracy theory books
lol!
SimCoupe running on a 'sortof ZX Spectrum' would just be... well,
surreal... ;-
Warren
Quoting Simon Owen <[email protected]>:
Bonus points if you then run SimCoupe on it, to see if it still feels wrong!
I created a quick SimCoupe binary for the Raspberry Pi back in Feb,
which I've tested in the development VM under QEMU. Still waiting
for real hardware to see how well it runs though. I was kinda
hoping I pre-registered early enough with RS, but I've not received
one of the magic vouchers yet. I'll have to see if my Farnell order
works out...
Si
On 13 Apr 2012, at 12:43, [email protected] wrote:
There's something very cool about seeing a spectrum do all that
(Even if it's really just the case with something else running
emulation). I hadn't thought too much about the keyboard, but I
suppose that would really be the major difficulty: Getting
something that plays exactly like the original but maps to PC
keyboard types for the emulator.
In theory, you could get a cheap 2nd hand spectrum (even
non-working one), a rasberry pi or beagle, and it would come to,
what, somewhere under £50? And assuming some relatively easy method
of fixing up the keyboard, you could fairly easily create your own.
:-) (say's the person who knows nothing about it lol!) It'd be cool
if someone created a general guide for doing it cheaply that way,
with the appropriate software for the Pi or Beagle, and some extra
gadget for the keyboard hookup. Then it would make a nice pack to
sell to enthusiasts with little-to-no knowledge of hardware and
electronics.
Graeme, it would be very cool to see where you get with that!
Definitely something you should get working. ;-)
Warren
Quoting Andrew Gillen <[email protected]>:
Hi Warren
This idea reminds me of the ZX Spectrum that was modded to run linux.
Check out
http://www.retrothing.com/2009/04/modding-a-sinclair-zx-spectrum-to-run-linux.html
http://www.retrothing.com/2009/04/modding-a-sinclair-zx-spectrum-to-run-linux.html
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0qh7dvaH98
That Beagleboard solution isn't a cheap one, and it requires a
fair bit of hackery to get the keyboard sorted, but it looks like
a fantastic result. I'd like to try the PI out in a similar
capacity, but I lack the degree of expertise in electrical hackery
unfortunately to see it through with any confidence of success. If
I can find a similar membranous keyboard to that which was used on
that set up for a low enough price, it won't stop me trying, though.
Much of the experience in playing old games is in using the old
kit itself. No amount of PC emulation and full stroke keyboard use
can replicate that ZX feel.
SAMwise it is different, the keyboard is of a good enough standard
for emulation to represent a pretty accurate experience for me.
Cheers
Andrew
--------------------------------------------------
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 11:18 AM
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: ZX Spectrum 'relaunch'
Off on a bit of a non-SAM tangent (but probably somewhat related
for most of us) I came across this the other day:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8304237/ZX-Spectrum-relaunch-gaming-goes-back-to-the-future.html
Lots of you have probably already heard this, but I don't
remember it being mentioned, so thought I would! ;-)
Supposedly a company were going to relaunch the zx spectrum this
year (by the looks of it, as a 48k speccy keyboard that links up
to an iPhone or similar to run an emulator), to coincide with
the 30th anniversary, but it doesn't look like it's going to
materialise any time soon. I know something similar is/was being
planned for the C64?
However, it got me thinking... Obviously in this day and age,
many of use want to enjoy the retro gaming experience, but we
haven't exactly got the space to keep things set up. I intend to
have my SAM set up permanently at some point, but I very much
doubt I'd ever get the space to dedicate to other systems, so
clearly something that pleasantly replicates the original
experience quickly and easily with modern advantages would be a
pleasing alternative.
So I figured, what would make an easy to use 'spectrum' emulator
for playing all the old games? You'd want HDMI output for ease
with modern televisions, SD card storage, and have it all fit
into one of our old rubber keyed friends. How do you do this on a
budget at that size? The first thing that popped into my head, is
the Raspberry Pi (if it ever gets to selling!!). Small enough to
probably fit in a speccy case, with HDMI out and card reader.
Surely this could make for a fairly cheap and effective 48k
Spectrum emulation experience?
I think the Speccy is particularly suited, because let's face it,
for most of us it was about the games more than anything. I don't
think anything similar would work for the SAM, because what makes
that such a unique experience (for me, anyway) is the original
and additional hardware in addition to the software. But for a
speccy I could see it being great fun, to play the games with
ease on a keyboard that replicates the old experience but with
updated advantages. (I think a SAM equivalent would have to be
more along the lines of Colin's 'SAM-in-a-can' projects, but
rather than old SAM parts, something that accurately replicates
the original hardware with modern additions)
Not being much of a tech person I'm not sure about the
feasibility, but it seems like a wasted opportunity in todays
market where retro-gaming has had somewhat of a resurgence?
Warren
