RetroChallenge: Update #3

What’s new since last update: Gears to control the dimmer kind of working. They are somewhat fragile ATM. Desktop UniJoystiCle Controller working. TODO: Add adapter to header printer so that it can move the dimmer User port-power supply cable the for SX-64 Voice-recognition for the mobile client: “Hey Commodore, turn off the light”. ...

October 21, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

RetroChallenge: C64 I.D.IoT.R Update #2

Ordered a rubber belt + pulley to control the dimmer from the printer header New UniJoystiCle PCB arrived (v0.4.0). I assembled one and works Ok both on the SX64 and the C128D. I just need to create a “user port” power cable for the SX64 since it doesn’t have a datasette port. Started the UniJoystiCle desktop client in order to control the dimmer from the PC/Mac. TODO: UniJoystiCle Desktop Client: Linear Mode, finish it. UniJoystiCle Desktop Client: Commando Mode, finish it (although not needed for the dimmer) UniJoystiCle Desktop Client: DPad Mode, finish it (although not needed for the dimmer) Assemble the rubber belt + pulley and connect it to the printer header Create user-port power cable to be used with the SX64 for the UniJoystiCle WiFi module C64 I.D.IoT.R app: Add voice, probably using SAM or similar. UniJoystiCle iOS/Android Client: Support voice commands in Linear Mode so people can say: “Ok Commodore, turn on the lights” Quick and Easy: Just support keyboard input More complex but more “professional”: Add api.ai support And I guess that’s it. ...

October 15, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

Retrochallenge: Building the C64 I.D.IoT.R

I started building the C64 I.D.IoT.R a few months ago, but never finished it. What better than to finish it for the Retro Challenge contest. C64 I.D.IoT.R is a smart light controlled from a C64. Its name means: C64: Commodore 64 I: Intelligent D: Dimmer IoT: Internet Of Things: R: RRRRR What I have done so far is this: (and is not part of the contest since I built it two months ago): ...

October 7, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

UniJoystiCle update #2

TL;DR Station Mode (with or without WPS) Inactivity timeout & Joystick statistics Auto-firmware upgrade Better ways to power the WiFi device Station mode and other features One thing that bothered me was that I needed to switch WiFi networks every time that I wanted to use the UniJoystiCle. Not a major issue, but not ideal specially if you use your phone both for the UniJoystiCle and for “regular” stuff. ...

September 27, 2016 · 5 min · ricardoquesada

UniJoystiCle Commando Mode, Game Controllers and other news

Since UniJoystiCle v0.3 was released back in July many things were added. Android client: It has all the iOS features, except Gyruss mode which will be added soon. iOS client: It is available on the App Store. Gyruss mode: Allows you to control the direction (up/down/left/right) using gravity. Linear mode: This was designed to control the header of the MPS-803 printer. More on this on a future blog post. D-pad mode + Game Controllers: You can use any iOS or Android game controller to play any C64 game. You can even use button “B” to jump, or swap buttons “A” and “B”. ...

September 13, 2016 · 2 min · ricardoquesada

UniJoystiCle news #1

I’ve just released a new firmware version for the UniJoystiCle (v0.4.0). It supports the new Commando Mode. The new Android client with Commando mode can be downloaded from here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=moe.retro.unijoysticle The iOS client will be available as soon as Apple approves it (usually a few days) and will be available here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unijoysticle-controller/id1130131741?mt=8 In order to upgrade the firmware, please follow these steps: DOCUMENTATION.md The Commando mode allows you to play games that: ...

September 13, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

VChar64 v0.2.0 released

VChar64 v0.2.0 is available for download: Win32: vchar64-0.2.0.win32.zip Mac: vchar64-0.2.0.mac.dmg New “VICE Import Snapshot” dialog. Changes: [NEW] Issue #13: Import VICE Snapshot supports importing maps as well [NEW] Issue #14: Possibility to restore the last open files at launch. Enabled by default [NEW] Issue #17: Added “File -> Clone Current Project” [NEW] Auto Update: Check if there is a new version every 7 days. Enabled by default [BUGFIX] Issue #11: Doesn’t crash when clicking radios on empty Koa file [BUGFIX] Issue #15: Menu->Colors->Multicolor are enabled/disabled as expected [BUGFIX] Issue #16: Map/Charset/Tileset: Backward selection works as expected [BUGFIX] Opening an already-open file will activate that window instead of opening a duplicate tab [BUGFIX] Moves references to retro.moe/pungas.space from empty charset to About dialog [BUGFIX] Fix memory leak when deleting a State instance [BUGFIX] Fix crash when using the Map widget with no open documents [BUGFIX] Settings code unified in Preferences code. OpenLastDir settings bug fixed

August 29, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

More UniJoystiCle videos

Here are more UniJoystiCle videos: Showing how to play C64 games using a real Game Controller via the UniJoystiCle: Showing how to play Gyruss using the UniJoystiCle Gyruss mode: ...

August 21, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada

CommVEx XII and VCF West XI recap

Two weeks ago I attended the Commodore Vegas Expo XII, and last week I’ve been at the Vintage Computer Festival West XI. CommVEx XII As the name describes it, it was a Commodore Expo in Las Vegas. But the format is a mix between conference and expo. It is a real expo, but with the social part of a conference. It is friendly and casual. People give talks in a very informal way. I gave a talk + live demo about the UniJoystiCle. Everything went well except that in the middle of the demo my phone’s glass broke. But that wasn’t an issue since the accelerometer kept working. ...

August 16, 2016 · 2 min · ricardoquesada

UniJoystiCle v0.3 released!

Yeaaaaaaaaaah! UniJoystiCle v0.3 was released! It includes: A beautifully designed PCB A realistic Unicycle game for the Commodore 64 A the iPhone application which can be downloaded from the App Store The new PCB Either you can: Build one yourself (the instructions are here: https://github.com/ricardoquesada/unijoysticle) or order one from OSHPark: But if are really interested in getting one, contact me and I’ll send you a fully assembled one for free. Just convince why you deserve it. ...

July 29, 2016 · 1 min · ricardoquesada