Tombstone City for NDS

 

Version:18 July 2011

Warning : The music is pretty lound & noisy. I need to understand why ...

 

What's that

Tombstone city is a game developped in 1981 by Texas Instrusment for the TI99/A4. (see [http://www.videogamehouse.net/tombstone.html] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_City:_21st_Century]).

This game corresponds to my own implementation of the original game, ready to run on a Nintendo NDS.

The main used tools are:

• libnds
• devkitARM
• PAlib-070717

What's new

Now integrates music and sounds.

Installation

To be able to run this homebrew, you need a linker such as R4, M3, ...

So, copy the TombstoneDS/bin/TombstoneDS.nds binary somewhere in its memory card and run it !

Keys

• X or A : Fire
• Arrows : Move
• R or L : Panic button. Put the player on a safety place but score is cleared !
• Select : Restart the game
• Start : Pause / Continue

The attached package contains source code and the binary.

Enjoy !

Buzz

 Package

 

IrdaJoy Arduino based interface

The IRDAJoy is the ultimate interface used to connect your old-school atari joystick and/or paddles to your PSP handheld console.
The communication between the console and the box is made through an IR link.

Originaly, this interface has been made with a PIC18 microcontroller. Because it is too much complicated to build, my good friend ZX asked me to build a new version with something easier to do.
So, here is the same interface, based on an arduino board.

What you need

• arduino board
• Arduino 0017 toolkit http://www.arduino.cc
• a prototyping board,
• an IR led (CQY89 or any compatible IR led)
• 220 resistor
• SUB-D 9 pins Male
• 2 paddles and / or one atari joystick
• a little box,
• 4xAA 1.2V battery cells + adaptor or 3xAA 1.5V battery cells

How to build
I did select the boarduino board because it is not expensive, small and fully compatible with other arduino boards.
To get complete infos, follow the link : http://www.ladyada.net/make/boardui...

Because there is a USB and a serial version, you will probably need a USB-TTL adaptor to program the arduino.

 

The schematic is very simple. No need to make a real PCB. A prototyping board is nice to use.
You just have to plug wires in the corresponding holes like in the picture.

When wiring is done, open the IrdaJoyArduino.pde file with Arduino 0017 IDE, connect the board to the PC (through a USB-TTL converter if you purchased the boarduino serial version or directly if you get the USB version) then click on the upload button.
The code is compiled and then automaticaly uploaded to the boarduino target. If everything is OK, just put everything into a small box and use it !

This adaptor is compatible with ZX PSP homebrews. Have a look at : http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/serendipit...

Enjoy !

Buzz

 Package

Joystick 2 USB adaptor

 

This simple hack corresponds to an "easy-to-make" joystick to USB adaptor.

It is mainly usefull for anybody who wants to play old-school games with their old Atari joysticks on a modern PC or may be on a handheld console like the Caanoo

It is very easy to make and of course, you do not need to make a PCB or buy expensive parts.

The idea: re-use an old USB keyboard to make things happen. Connect your joystick and plug the USB to the PC.

You have to launch your favorite emulator and define the corresponding keys.

Key mapping

• UP: 8
• DOWN: 5
• LEFT: 2
• RIGHT: 0
• FIRE: /

Attached package contains every needed information to make your own.

Enjoy !

Buzz

Package

Tomstone City for Linux

 

This new version integrates now music & sounds !

If you need more info on the original game, have a look at http://www.videogamehouse.net/tombstone.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombstone_City:_21st_Century).

Keys are :

• Arrows : Move
• L-Ctrl : Shoot
• Tab : Panic button. The player is placed on a safety place but score is cleared !
• Backspace : Restart the game
• Enter : Pause / Continue
• Esc : Quit
• F1 : Help

The attached file contains source code only (no binary).

Enjoy !
Buzz

Package 

ZX81 Video mod

 

Here is a very simple ZX81 modification to replace the ugly modulated video output by a composite video signal.

I tried several modications from the WEB, but due to special video standard in France, none of them was successful on the ZX81.
So, here is my own adaptation. If it works for me, it should work for you !
The attached file contains the schematics and some pictures.

Have fun !

Buzz

 Package

 

Arduino thermostat

 

Here is an "easy to make" Thermostat.
The goal was to replace an existing non working thermostat on a heat accumulation panel. Instead of buying a new one I decided to make my own.

The goal was to use basic electronic parts, to be cheap, fun to make and of course safe.
It is mainly based on a :

• arduino (boarduino version) - board for the controler

• TIL311 led digits - temperature visualisation (very expensive if you do not have some),

• 5V stabilized power supply (NDS lite power bloc) 

• DS18B20 - 1-wire temperature sensor.

• BT12-600 triac - power switching (2000W load).

There is no PCB. It is up to you to make your own or use a prototype board like me.

Note

The package is not available as I have lost the Arduino source code...

Buzz

GfxGui : SDL based generic graphical toolkit

The goal of this toolkit is to provide a set of graphical routines that are independent from the hardware. 

It can be typically used wherever SDL library is available (PSP, GP2X, ...) and Linux. It can be used to manipulate low level graphics (circles, lines, text, ...) but it can be also used to create more complex GUI (buttons, windows, ...).

Attached package contains Makefiles, sources and a few examples.
 

Have fun !
Buzz

 Package