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Post by hcmffm on Sept 28, 2016 5:17:01 GMT -5
Well presumably a BASIC program would be more comprehensible. Sorry for my above joking, glip. The idea of a physical release as printed code has some charm, but I guess as soon as there are vector graphics and 3D graphics involved and/or the games' logic is a bit more complex, you will have to type lots of BASIC code. Remember that the Vectrec32 has 512kb of RAM which allows for pretty big BASIC programs. People (including me) did type pages of hexcode back in 1984 as there was no other means to widely distribute and transfer source code or binaries. You even typed in source code for a BASIC program that helped to type in the actual hexcode by generating and checking checksums in the hexcode. Printed code on paper would be really retro; but today we have the internet and I think printed code on paper - be it BASIC code or hexcode - is not a good way to distribute software in 2016.
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Post by ledzep on Sept 29, 2016 23:45:39 GMT -5
The USB plug on the SmartCart is a mini-B; it doesn't allow a USB thumb drive or any other device to be plugged in. I'm surprised at how many people have asked for a cartridge that plugs into the SmartCart. I guess people are looking for the same tactile experience that cartridges have. However, my focus for now is the gaming experience. I would say that it is the tactile experience (if I buy something I want to be able to hold it in my hands) but I think another aspect is the collectibility of the game (and its packaging). I know there are people (and I'm one of them) who hates the artificial forced rarity of only making 20 copies of a game, after they're gone that's it, good luck finding them on eBay for under $500 hahahaaha. But there's something to be said for having a game be available for a while in physical form (on AtariAge for example) and then, eventually, no more, you had your chance, try the secondary market. Something to search for, "the thrill of the hunt" or however you want to look at it. I collect boxed LEGO sets, too, and those number in the millions probably, but finding one complete 30 years later is a bit of a bear depending on the set. And fun, to a degree. Or frustrating, when that particular set refuses to present itself. But that's collecting, right? There's no way to get that from a file. That's like trading MP3 files (I won't pay for those, I deal only in FLAC or better), there's no joy, really, in getting them because anyone can make more of them, it's like hunting for M&Ms or Coca-Cola - too easy. There is satisfaction in tracking down certain songs so that you can listen to them whenever you feel like it. But while you can copy and redistribute program files (and ROM dumps), that's all you get. It's much harder to reproduce, to clone entire packages, the carts and labels and manuals and boxes and overlays. And I think for Vectrex collectors there is that extra satisfaction of having an overlay (when available) in order to fully share in the fake color game Vectrex experience. I look at it the same way with Atari 5200 games, come on you guys, if you make a homebrew then also make the controller overlays! I know, it's not easy and most games are just plug in and play but I have the hope of writing a 5200 game (and Vectrex game, too) at some point and the game I'm thinking of would require an overlay because the number pad would be necessary. I wonder if there could be a SmartCart+ that would include either a different USB port or some other way to plug in some sort of cartridge reader? I made a lazy search of Google and came across these - www.retrode.com/www.dragonbox.de/en/63-retrode (licensed vendor) www.msx.org/articles/msx-game-readerThere are lots of Arduino solutions as well but they are bulky with lots of bare wiring. Still, might be cool to dump the BASIC files onto carts and then plug a cartridge reader into the SmartCart (if possible). I'm not trying to nag or anything, I do truly appreciate the time and effort into making something that can take the Vectrex to the next level (and I will get one eventually) but I think this one missing aspect would make it the "killer app" for the Vectrex.
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Post by bob on Sept 30, 2016 7:51:28 GMT -5
The SmartCart lets you write and debug games for the Vectrex in interactive interpreted BASIC. Think about that a minute: nothing remotely like this has ever been possible before! Until now, writing games has required very advanced programming skills. With the SmartCart, many more people can do it. If that's not a killer app, I don't know what is. - Bob
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Post by ledzep on Oct 1, 2016 2:14:12 GMT -5
The SmartCart lets you write and debug games for the Vectrex in interactive interpreted BASIC. Think about that a minute: nothing remotely like this has ever been possible before! Until now, writing games has required very advanced programming skills. With the SmartCart, many more people can do it. If that's not a killer app, I don't know what is. - Bob It is an amazing accomplishment and I'm really glad it exists. But "killer app" for game consoles isn't merely what is "best" but also what is most desired and owned. For example, I think many people would agree that Star Raiders is the killer app for the Atari 5200. That or the Trak-Ball (supposedly "Space Invaders" was the killer app for the 2600). I think if the 5200 was still being sold by Atari today the killer app would now be Tempest. The point being that if only 50 or so people have the thing or cared to acquire it, it cannot be labelled the "killer app" even if it should be considered so. I think it's amazing and I haven't even laid eyes on one yet. It beats the 3D Viewer for me. But at the same time, how many are out there being used? I would suggest that modifying the experience such that the mainstream homebrew process can be adapted to the SmartCart would push it to the point that "everyone" who owns a Vectrex would want one (you have essentially upgraded the hardware). It's not just the ability to make superior games, it's the availability of those superior games. And the collectibility aspect sort of requires a physical component. "Check out my Vectrex collection" loses a lot of its punch when all you're doing is showing off a subdirectory full of program files. Nobody puts a MAME collection on shelves to display because there's nothing to display and MAME (and MESS) games number in the thousands, much more than exists for the SmartCart (currently). Nobody collects emulators because it's too easy, they merely acquire them and play games on them. But a collection of SmartCart Vectrex32 games? In boxes? Ok, now you're talking. People don't climb over each other to get a copy of the limited edition boxed version of "Protector" because it's the greatest game ever (though it may be), but because it's a rare, physical thing (I'm not a fan of the pink overlay so I personally am not bothered to try but I loooove that box). That same enthusiasm isn't in evidence for the ROM dump of the same game, to say nothing of the amount of money that would be paid. The desire for the boxed version of "Pitcher's Duel" is much greater than for the ROM dump. That's just how it is. I mean, your SmartCart is a physical release, yes? And limited to how many you can make in order to sell? How cool would it be to have Vectex32 games on a collector's shelf? I think it would be great, especially if you, for example, offered a couple boxed games as a starting point to the collectible idea. If the SmartCart owner isn't interested, he just wants the BASIC file, fair enough. But if he wants the physical version? Get 'em while they're available.
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