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Post by jfmateos on Jun 27, 2014 7:44:24 GMT -5
I am thinking about developing a game with a second small color display integrated in the cartridge.
For example, in "3d Red baron" this screen could be used for a map with a compass...
Any other idea for a second screen?
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Post by VECTREXER on Jun 27, 2014 8:06:18 GMT -5
As a just a basic screen there are all sorts of status displays that could be used. Or just as a cool little Video Organ for display. If the I/O and display are quick enough the extra screen could also be made an extension of the playfield.
If the display could be made to pivot/flip/rotate then it might be used by a second player for a two-player title requiring privacy as part of the game play. This might also be accomplished in a practical manner by using a hood with a mirror to shield and reflect as needed.
How about making it a touchscreen? Not only for display, but also as another controller for various games.
You might also include extra RAM for those games (current and future) that need it. Some flash storage as well to keep long term variable data.
Going further on the hardware, a RCA/VGA/HDMI port for connection to a larger secondary display.
An alternative to the display might be to take something and embed small projector. Something such as a:
Virtual Boy display module focused for display on the wall,
A small laser + galvo,
A very small and low power LED projector.
But this is asking a lot for such a small area to work with. Unless a larger cart shell were made.
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Post by jfmateos on Jun 27, 2014 8:19:13 GMT -5
Guauuuu vectrexer... every single line of your post makes my brain think about lots of possibilities.
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Post by VectorX on Jun 27, 2014 8:25:21 GMT -5
I am thinking about developing a game with a second small color display integrated in the cartridge. For example, in "3d Red baron" this screen could be used for a map with a compass... Brilliant idea! |
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Post by gliptitude on Jun 27, 2014 10:43:11 GMT -5
Yeh very interesting ideas vectrexer. I'm sure my favorite among them is THE PROJECTOR idea. .. Might be a waste of new hardware though to have this only dedicated to one game on one cartridge.
.. Another thing i always thought would be cool would be a Vectrex cart with a GAME BOY LINK PORT, and then a game that displayed on Vectrex and Gameboy simultaneously and required a Vectrex cart and a Game Boy cart to play. This could be a two player game where one player used Vectrex while the other used the Game Boy, or it could be a single player game where the player used the Game Boy screen for maps etc, having access perhaps to the Game Boy itself as a controller, so the second screen would be very conveniently located. ... Also the headphone jack of the Game Boy could provide ability for external stereo sound.
.. One problem with a Vectrex Game Boy link though is that the two consoles have very different ideal lighting conditions to play in. It would be no problem for me and many others who have backlight modded Game Boys. But a regular Game Boy requires ample ambient light, and Vectrex is best in a dimly lit room.
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Post by jfmateos on Jun 27, 2014 14:00:14 GMT -5
Gliptitude, you have inspired me that the second screen could be an Android Phone, communicating with the cartridge through Bluetooth... I like this idea
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Post by gliptitude on Jun 27, 2014 14:21:35 GMT -5
Gliptitude, you have inspired me that the second screen could be an Android Phone, communicating with the cartridge through Bluetooth... I like this idea Well that sounds much more reasonable and useful than my Game Boy fantasy! Ha ha, I think this is the second time I have gotten you that close to developing something for my second favorite console, (Game Boy). .. Do Android phones have gyro sensors in them like iPhones, iPads and the 3DS do? That could be a cool control capability for some Vectrex games. .. I suppose any game software made for this Android/Vectrex system would involve a normal size Vectrex ROM on cart plus an Android App that was much much bigger in file size than the Vectrex program? |
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Post by jfmateos on Jun 27, 2014 16:45:07 GMT -5
Yes, android phones have gyro, accelerometer, compass, ...
Yes, it could be used as a control
Yes, it is a 3-part system:
1. Vectrex ROM
2. Bluetooth-Vectrex interface
3. Android app
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Post by TrekMD on Jun 27, 2014 17:07:35 GMT -5
That is one nifty idea!
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Post by VECTREXER on Jun 28, 2014 12:39:43 GMT -5
Gliptitude, you have inspired me that the second screen could be an Android Phone, communicating with the cartridge through Bluetooth... I like this idea Interesting. But not just Bluetooth. USB/Dock/Lightning ports. This might be a little off topic but here is a repost of a question I just asked on AtariAge that seems to cover many points above. Title: USB/Dock/Lightning used to replace a Controller with a Smartphone/Tablet ?? I have seen a lot of adapters to convert a controller/joystick for use on one system to use on a completely different system. Such as the PSX to Vectrex adapter. I have also seen USB adapters to allow the use of an original controller/joystick on a PC in order to have a better experience in an emulator. But I have not yet noticed an adapter to allow a smartphone/table (Android, iPhone, etc) to act as a replacement controller. Effectively turning the smartphone/table into a controller you can connect to an old/new console. Has anyone seen a adapter to connect a USB / Dock / Lightning port to an console port of a classic console? (Vectrex, Atari, Intellivision, SNES, Sega,etc) Would be nice to use a tablet or a smartphone as a replacement controller. While not a joystick, there could still be some upsides. Such as an virtual controller app that would allow the following: - Remapping of the controls.
- Repositioning of the controls.
- Emulation of analog controls in the smartphone/tablet with corresponding analog output to the console. Such as a the analog joystick in the Vectrex and other systems.
- Emulation of keypad controls in the smartphone/tablet with corresponding output to the console. Such as a the keypad in the Intellivision and other systems.
- Macros for use during game play.
- Skins and other graphics to replicate to the look and feel of the original controller in the app on smartphone/tablet.
In addition simply replacing the controller, I could see the adapter taking things further for those systems that have some two-way I/O capability possibility. Obviously some code would be needed on both the console and the smartphone/tablet app to allow for this interface to work. I can see many older systems supporting this idea. Even the Vectrex. The following features and more might be supported. - Allow the smartphone/tablet to act as a rumble controller giving the player physical feedback.
- Emulation of other non-standard keypads, joysticks, and other controllers, etc. that are hard to obtain due to rarity or price.
- Allow the smartphone/tablet to provide audible feedback. Effectively turning the external device into another sound interface for the console. Beeps. full range sounds. Music. Voice synthesis, etc.
- Allow the smartphone/tablet/other device act as a secondary display for the console to a limited degree. Obviously this would vary by system and communication speed on the console port.
- Other generalized I/O allowing other things to be accomplished not mentioned above .
What do you all think? What have you already seen? |
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Post by VectorX on Jun 28, 2014 13:17:09 GMT -5
Could be a question that kokovec could answer...
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