Author: Peter Swimm

  • RetroThing on: Two New XGameStation Retro Consoles

    6a00d83452989a69e201116906e296970c-800wiThe new game systems include NTSC/PAL video, VGA, Serial Ports, Micro SD card slot, PS/2 Port, Game Ports, Expansion Ports, Dual 3.3/5V Power Supplies and more. Both kits include a 300+ page book that guides the user into the depths of the system.  APIs for graphics, sound, I/O and interfacing are provided to speed game development. Nurve also developed a high performance XGS BASIC for each system, allowing users to choose from C/C++, assembly or BASIC when coding.

    Read More at Retro Thing

    Xgamestation

  • 8bit Music Computer?

    mkpp1-2tMaker Shed has started stocking these 8bit TV-Computers (you may remember from our post here). For $50, you get:

    • Contains a 1Mhz 6502 chip–the same technology that ushered in the “Home Computer Revolution” in the 1980s.
    • Each box comes with a keyboard, mouse, 2 game controllers, operating system cartridge, RCA cables (NTSC video and stereo audio), and a 9 volt power supply.
    • Plays 8-bit 60-pin Japanese game cartridges (such as Famicom cartridges, or NES cartridges with an NES to FC converter)
    • Supplied Cartridge comes with:
    • Mandarin Chinese 8-bit GUI with English DOS prompt
    • BASIC programming language and sprite manipulator (in English)
    • 8-bit Music composer
    • “Visual Theremin” Mode

    The last two are highlighted because I ahve never heard of them. Anyone know what they are like? And hopefully Maker Shed will start carrying eeprom carts for this sucker soon..

  • DutyCycle II Sampler

    dcij1o5gvl73ywwwo13bcny6o1_400The Sanfran Chip collective “DutyCycle” have put together a music sampler for their upcoming show.

    Grab it:

    Track Listing:

    1. Mr. Spastic – Innaface
    2. A_Rival – A_Rival
    3. Two Playa Game – First Strike Weapon
    4. WDUWSTS – Waiting
    5. cris2600 – STAPH&Math

    Its cool seeing different groups trying different techniques to get new listeners out to shows, and I hope to see this trend continue in the future. Currently most of the chip promotion, at least in the states seems to be inwardly focused and not enough is done to get new faces invovled. Share your tips for show promotion in the comments.!

  • Skrasoft on Poly Pokey Midi

    testpolyOne of the features of the MIDI Pokey synth is the ability to have one MIDI channel control all the Pokey voices polyphonically. That allows it to play chords directly from a standard MIDI keyboard without any fancy processing in between. The Pokey has four voices, so it can play four note chords. It can also do three note chords plus a melody line, and any other permutation of four. Making it work was just a matter of deciding how to route multiple notes to multiple channels.

    More info and audio on the Blog. I want this one pretty bad..

  • LSDJ Patch Book Appeared

    8BC Dev Goatslacker has launched a new LSDJ Patch Book site. The site is very easy to use, and easy to upload your own patches. One could argue that half the fun is making your own sounds from scratch, but this is a valuable learning tool, and a good way for you old dogs to learn new tricks. The interface is great, and its mega easy for you to transcribe your lsdj patches. More features coming soon, I hope!