512 game multi-cart

mindstein · Post by **mindstein** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:19 pm

I just don't know enough assembly to answer that question
I am just starting to look into the menu system and from what I hear
the actual creation of the menu is the hard part.
I think after the cart is done I will take a serious look at making a menu system for "multi-cart V2"

Also In my last post I left out Spong as one of the people on my list for carts.
Sorry Sponge. Your on the list also if you want one.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:30 pm

Yeah like gannon said you could put a menu for 256 games in the fist slot and a menu for the next 256 in the next slot. At the end of the fist one you just point the program at the next slot. A 2 page system. Sorry if I sound stupid but I dont have any idea how assembly works. Also, how do you combine all the .BINs into 1 big .BIN . Thanks.

mindstein · Post by **mindstein** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:44 pm

You do this by appending 4K games together in one file (e.g. with the command prompt: "copy game1.bin /b + game2.bin /b + ... + gamex.bin /b epromimage.bin /b")
With 2K games you should repeat the 2K game twice to make it 4K.

So what you are doing is creating one large eprom image .bin

When you are done you have basicaly just added on to the end of another. and you end up with one big file.

If we were making a menu cart the first one would be the menu rom.

And i just thought that since the 512 cart used 2 256k chips each menu will only need to be for 256 games not 512. But like I said I don't know how that works yet.

Also I think we should start another thread about the games and what should be on the multi cart. But remember only 2 and 4k games will fit.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:54 pm

Nah you dont have to start a new thread. This thread is everything about the multicart. Also regarding the roms Im bringing my collection down to 512. Then Ill try and put them togeather.

mindstein · Post by **mindstein** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:57 pm

I might be able to right a Perl script for combining all of the bins in a given folder. I will look into this. And let you know.

Also some other form of Macros might be used to combine the files.

I'll run a few test in the next few days and let you all know.

I have a buddy that is much better at command line stuff than I am, I will ask him.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:00 pm

Is there a reason besides "thats the way it works" that you can only have 2/4kb roms? Is it the 16 pin switching thing? If it is then you could eliminate that problem in the bankswitching one right? (I mean the menu driven one.)

Post by **gannon** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:18 pm

I know mostly how to make a php script that would automatically take all the games and put them in one big bin file, but alas, I don't know how to interface php with a unix command line

Edit:
Have you tried to contact Kevin Horton? I know the odds of him helping aren't all that high, but he has built bankzilla which used a pretty nice bankswitching program for the 2600

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 2:27 pm

Do I need to use a Time magazine, or can I use any magazine that has that glossy-like paper (like, Ninetendo Power, or a Dell catalog)? I hope that it doesn't mess up my laser printer!

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 2:30 pm

Im sure you can use anything glossy. Make sure to use something similar to a time magizine though.

mindstein · Post by **mindstein** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:46 am

I tried several mags in my laser copyer and none affected the machine, but expetiment at your own risk.

Don't ruin your parents laser copier.
It should be fine though.

You could to a heat test with an iron to see if the paper will leave anything behind when heated.
Iron the mag page to a blank sheet of paper and make sure that they don't interact beyond a slight sticking

Remember the laser copier only gets about 180 degree so set the iron to about half or 3/4 and test. Full will probably just melt the ink on the mag. and I don't think the copier gets that hot.

If you are realy freeked out about it then just buy the toner transfer paper from digi-key for $14. My copyer is new so I bought the paper from digi-key.

mindstein · Post by **mindstein** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 1:09 am

Here is a pic of the etch tank I made.

It is basicaly just a skinny aquarium made from plexi.

http://24.5.48.50/atariPortableSite/images/103_0375.jpg

Pics of the building of it are at the end of my portable pic construction log

http://24.5.48.50/atariPortableSite/

Also here is a pic of the CD4050 composit video mod board etching.

http://24.5.48.50/atariPortableSite/images/103_0376.jpg

I used it as a test and to get used to how the etching worked.

I think i will try and etch the first 512 game goard tomorrow.
I will be sure to post a pic of how it comes out.

The CD4050 board came out great. So I think the carts will be OK.
The transfer is the hard part. You end up having to redraw some of it with a sharpie because not all of the toner sticks.

I thought I was going to be able to etch 5 or 10 boards at a time but It looks like it will have to be one at a time.
The transfer of the toner is difficult and the boards etch in like 5 min in my tank so I have to stay right ontop of It so that they don't etch for to long

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:47 pm

Sounds cool, just tell us when the carts are ready!

yuppicide · Post by **yuppicide** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:21 pm

I'd really like a 512 in 1 if it had a menu system.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 6:48 pm

Im working on one likje that

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:49 pm

vb_master wrote: 2x 27C801 EPROM's (could you provide some more information, like which one - 27C801-100, or 27C801-120 ?)

Hmmm....so the 27Cxxx EPROMs work with Atari as well as NES? Hmm... ^^

That means I can make my own!

I do have a surplus of 27C010(128K) chips... That means when the schematic and stuff is posted, I can make 32-in-one or even 64-in-one carts...