FPGA Replay Board

[Darrin]

Still no luck  I tried a DVI to VGA adaptor but got "Mode not supported" message from the TV. (my TV is a samsung UE4B6000) I've one similar to this one but as there's many, is this one the right one (enough pins)? http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adapter_DVI_to_VGA.jpg  I also tried a composite cable like this one : http://zxbvlm.blogspot.fr/2013/07/6-feet-3-rca-composite-av.html  But if I switch the TV then the FPGA Arcade, I got the message "No signal". If I switch the FPGA Arcade then the TV I see a partial workbench screen (half black and half workbench vertically, the quality is bad) then 2s after the "No signal" message.  Any help is more than welcome. Kamelito

That's similar what I had when I first got mine and tried using a DVI-VGA adapter along with a VGA-VGA cable.  I thought I had a faulty board and then I tried a DVI-VGA cable and it worked.  If you have one handy (or can borrow one) then give it a go.

[Darrin]

core

[Darrin]

What about the core?

Exactly.

[Darrin]

@PsxPhill

LOL.  I think the FPGA Arcade was a million times more exciting than that movie.  

[Darrin]

Nobody should doubt that the boards and core exist.  I received the FPGA Arcade, back plate, and developer breakout board today.  Woot!

Getting a lot of nice pictures of the board shot today for the website.

Did you get the old core or the new one with RTG?

[Darrin]

I am not at liberty to discuss anything about the core.  FPGA Arcade is Mike's product, so he is the one that should address everything.  I was just reporting that it all in fact exists.  

I know... I've had one for nearly 2 years.  

I'd just like to see an update before I get back home in 2 weeks.  The Chameleon64 spoils me.  I seem to get updates every other week for that.

[Darrin]

You run Chameleon64 on the FPGA Replay?

No, I have one of them on a C64C.  I have I'm referring to C64 and Minimig core updates for that which come quite frequently.

I must admit it is funny to see the faces on people when I show them Workbench running on a C64.  

[Darrin]

I am busy moving flat this week - absolute chaos.

However, Wolfgang has taken the beta libraries and ported Phoenix game to test the menu system and libs.

Should be able to work on the Amiga core again Monday.
/MikeJ

Cheers Mike.  I know what it is like as I recently moved into my new house.  I've still got stuff in the old one that I need to go back for.  My "computer room" is stacked high with boxes and one of them contains my FPGA Arcade.  I just hope I can find it when my X500 case arrives.

Phoenix?  Phoenix?  Did I ever mention that along with Defender, Pheonix is may all time favourite arcade game!!!

Drool!!!

[Darrin]

No love for my questions :p

I'm in America.  When it comes to questions on SCART, the answer is "What's SCART?"  (OK, I know cause I'm a Brit).  :p

If you want to use a CRT monitor, just connect a VGA cable.  If you have an old CRT TV with no VGA input, but you have SCART then just use an adapter:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JS-COMPONENT-YUV-TO-RGB-SCART-VGA-CONVERTER-/271255698459

A cheaper option would be to connect it to a TV using COMPONENT or S-VIDEO.

[Darrin]

I'll check with Wolfgang but I think he is happy for me to post the core. It's really a test that the libraries etc can be used by 3rd party devs. You will need to flash to the new boot loader and menu system. This means the old amiga core will no longer work, and you will pester me every day for the new one - which is fine with me

I'll post details asap.
/MikeJ

LOL.  Thanks Mike, I'd love to get my hands on Pheonix.

I might need to buy a second FPGA Arcade then.  

I take it that reflashing to the new boot loader is done via a file on the SD Card?

One of the great selling points to me of the FPGA Arcade will be (with the new bootloader and new core) the ability to select at boot time which core (Amiga, arcade game, other system) you wish to run.  This is a nice feature on the Chameleon64 which I currently have configures to boot into a C64, ECS Amiga or ZX Spectrum.

[Darrin]

No, it requires a USB cable to be connected to the micro-usb connector and some software run on a PC. It's pretty easy, I'm drafting some instructions now.
It's also very safe as the ARM has a default usb loader you can restore by shorting a link on the board.
/MikeJ

Ah, OK.  Sounds similar to what I have to do with the Chameleon64 when I update that.  I use a USB cable between the cartridge and the PC and then use a program called Chaco to flash it.  Pretty painless as long as you do everything in the right order.

A step-by-step guide will certainly be useful.

It can't be any worse than the old Minimig fun and games with the serial cable.  

[Darrin]

Wolfgang has some pictures of Phoenix here ...
http://pin4.at/pro_arcade_phoenix.php

Cheers for that link.  I see I'm going to need to make a modification to my monitor stand so that I can rotate it 90 degrees.  

Any idea what he uses for the control buttons?  Joytick and keyboard or custom adapter?

I also noticed that he wants to port the following games:

Galaga
Popeye
Dig Dug
Crazy Kong
Super Pacman
Frogger
Xevious

[Darrin]

I've been looking at the game Minimig compatibility list here:

http://www.opencircuits.com/Minimig_Software_compatibility

Would this be valid for Arcade FPGA or by now the core would have been fixed to make more games work?

If you look at the core used for most of the testing (080408) you can see that the list was done back in August 2008.  There have been a lot of updates since then.

I started to make a new list using the Minimig, Chameleon and FPGA Arcade, but I stopped because I was waiting for the new FPGA Arcade core.  Once I have it (and some spare time) I'll start again.

[Darrin]

Both DB9 male ports are joystick connectors, not for VGA output.
VGA needs a DVI to VGA adapter.

I was wondering about that.  My FPGA Arcade doesn't have a VGA port, just the DVI, S-video and Composite.

[Darrin]

Yep, my mistake... referring to a 15KHz DB9<>DB15<>DVI adapter.  Some of the arcade games (like Phoenix) use a 61 Hz (yes, really) refresh so I am trying every monitor/adapter I own to see what will sync.

I thought you might have been given some early protype for a sec  

I looked at the notes on the Pheonix refresh rate.  I'll be interested to see how that will affect my monitor via the DVI-VGA cable I'm using.

[Darrin]

DVI->VGA appears to work just fine on any of my LCD monitors.  DVI direct connection does not work with Phoenix.  There is also a non scan-doubled mode (15KHz), so I was trying to connect a DVI->VGA->RGB converter board to see if an old Amiga monitor would work.  I don't think its worth the effort at this point.

It seems that most games use a standard 60Hz refresh with VBI, so I don't think this is too common.  You can look through the MAME info and see which games were non-standard.

I have to tell you, I am pretty excited about this board.  Once I got everything setup correctly, it's pretty simple.  I think a micro-ATX case is going to be mandatory.  It spooks me a bit to have everything laying out on the counter, with test leads and such everywhere.

Thanks, so the DVI-VGA connection I have "should" be good for Pheonix then?  Just don't to DVI-DVI?

I've been using my FPGA Arcade uncased and just sat on a wooden desk since I had it.  Hopefully my X500 case isn't going to be too much longer.