Posts

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: ...

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

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: ...

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. ...

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. ...

This is mostly a bug-fix release, focused on improving the workflow. Download: Mac: vchar64-0.1.0.mac.dmg Win32: vchar64-0.1.0.win32.zip Source code: https://github.com/ricardoquesada/vchar64 Changes: [NEW] Export: saves exported addresses in vcharproj file. Increased version to 3 [BUGFIX] Compiles on Ubuntu 16.04 [BUGFIX] Export: Export As shows most recent export addresses [BUGFIX] Export: generates an Undo event only if it is different than previous state [BUGFIX] Save: sets the Undo Stack as clean, but doesn’t clear it [BUGFIX] Save: saved files are appended to the recent files entry [BUGFIX] Recent Files: Non existing entries appear as disabled [BUGFIX] Multicolor: radios are enabled/disabled accordingly [BUGFIX] Multicolor: copy & paste updates multicolor as well Changes in the binaries: ...

v0.2.1 powered from a battery. Can be powered from USB as well. Changes in v0.2.1: Commodore 64 works Ok when the UniJoystiCle board is unpowered. The issue was that the 4066 chips were in an unknown state when they were unpowered. In v0.2.1 the 4066 ICs get power from the C64 Joy #2 port. Smaller holes for the DC Jack making it compatible with “common” DC Jacks. Unfortunately, v0.2.1 has a bug, and the way to fix it is to cut the 3v3 trace that comes from the NodeMCU. ...

I assumed that the Commodore 1581 was failing because of a bad WD1772 IC (as documented in Part I). So I ordered a WD1772 replacement and the IC socket, I developed some basic desoldering skills, watched some desoldering videos, and also got a cheap desoldering iron from Radio Shack: So, I removed the board from the Commodore 1581 and started to desolder the IC. To my surprise, the $11-buck desolder iron worked pretty well. I was able to remove all the solder from the pins in a few minutes. ...

Download(firmware, iOS client and schematics + board): https://github.com/ricardoquesada/unijoysticle Changes in v2.0: [NEW] - ESP8266 Schematic: PCB board version. Protoboard version deprecated [NEW] - ESP8266 Schematic: Added EAGLE board and schematic files. Fritzing diagrams deprecated [NEW] - ESP8266 device: supports 2 joysticks (uses three 4066 ICs instead of two [NEW] - ESP8266 firmware uses AP mode by default. Uses SSID “unijosyticle” + last 2 bytes of mac address [NEW] - iOS Client: Can be configured to use either joystick port [NEW] - iOS Client: Auto-discover ESP8266 firmware using mDNS [NEW] - iOS Client: UniJoystiCle mode also supports up, down and fire (jump) [FIX] - iOS Client: Uses correct aspect rations in all iPhones: 4, 5, 6 and 6+ [FIX] - iOS Client: D-Pad mode uses arrows + circle instead of colored squares [FIX] - iOS Client: D-Pad mode highlights buttons when they are pressed [FIX] - Name: Renamed project from Uni-Joysti-Cle to UniJoystiCle (easier to search, shorter to type) [FIX] - ESP8266 device: replaced NodeMCU LoLin with NodeMCU Amica since it is breadboard friendly. [FIX] - Sophisticated Glue Material: Uses gaffer tape, instead of duct tape

My Sacred Diskettes. In 1986 (or was it 1987?) I got my first computer, a Commodore 64. I started learning BASIC and during ‘87 and ‘88 I created some very simple games. Somewhere in ‘88 I started learning assembly language (machine language to be precise), but I don’t recall coding any game using this language. If so, it must have probably been due to the fact that I lacked a good monitor. ...