Category Archives: Retro

Transistor level Atari 2600 simulation

Posted on May 18, 2015 by e8johan

Based on the work from visual6502.org, Greg James has put together a transistor level simulation of the Atari 2600 console. The entire project is available from github. The simulator runs slowly, but that is the trick. Everything is simulated at half-clock … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Retro | Comments Off on Transistor level Atari 2600 simulation

Python without an OS

Posted on April 29, 2015 by e8johan

Josh Triplett just did a presentation at PyCon demonstrating Python running in GRUB and EFI. He has a full interactive Python 2.7 environment, including the ability to peek and poke at memory, including the framebuffer. What excites me about this, … Continue reading →

Posted in Programming, Retro | Comments Off on Python without an OS

MEGA65 – a modern 8-bit system

Posted on April 23, 2015 by e8johan

Paul Gardner-Stephen and MEGA, museum of electronic games and art, just announced the MEGA65. It is a modern day 8-bit computer. It is compatible enough with the C64 to run old ROMs and programs, while it supports modern interfaces such as … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, FPGA, Open Hardware, Retro | Comments Off on MEGA65 – a modern 8-bit system

Kryoflux – low level floppy controller

Posted on March 25, 2015 by e8johan

When working with retro computers, you sooner or stumble upon aged disk media. Unfortunately data is lost. Various solution exists such as gotek, C64FC or custom hacks. However, when encountering old, unreadable disks, there is still hope. The problem is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Retro | Comments Off on Kryoflux – low level floppy controller

Retrospelsmässan

Posted on March 20, 2015 by e8johan

It is time for another round of Retrospelsmässan – the retro gaming fair #1 in Sweden.

Posted in Retro | Comments Off on Retrospelsmässan

Compiling for the C64

Posted on March 11, 2015 by e8johan

Michael Steil from pagetable just posted a nice article on the art of migrating software to newer systems. Basically, he has built the code of a project started back in 1995 today. The code base has gone through both the … Continue reading →

Posted in Programming, Retro | Comments Off on Compiling for the C64

Retro Arcade Repairs

Posted on January 31, 2015 by e8johan

A friend of mine, kralleman, is crazy about retro games and their hardware. I mean properly crazy. Crazy enough to appear on national TV, as well as having three episodes of a local retro gaming show dedicated to his own … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Retro | Comments Off on Retro Arcade Repairs

Impressive 6502 Home Computer

Posted on January 27, 2015 by e8johan

Dirk Grappendorf has been working on a serious looking MOS 6502 based computer. Over at his site, you can follow his development diary. The computer was developed between September 2014 and January 2015. Quite impressive, given the outcome! The entire … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D Printing, Electronics, Open Hardware, Programming, Projects, Retro | Comments Off on Impressive 6502 Home Computer

Raspberry Pi as an Amiga Floppy Drive

Posted on January 21, 2015 by e8johan

As you probably know, the combination of retro computing and tinkering with embedded platforms tickles the mind of us here at DigitalFanatics. Someone who really hit that spot is Maurizio Ramondo and his Amiga Drive project. Basically, it is about … Continue reading →

Posted in Raspberry Pi, Retro | Comments Off on Raspberry Pi as an Amiga Floppy Drive

Emulator Preventing Tricks

Posted on January 16, 2015 by e8johan

One application of reverse engineering is the creation of emulators of old systems. This is often done to preserve the technology and to address the lack of access to functioning hardware. One such system is the Game Boy Advance. Produced between … Continue reading →

Posted in Electronics, Retro | Comments Off on Emulator Preventing Tricks