tedi@mmintl.UUCP (ted ives) (08/10/87)
I am posting this for a friend.
This is all concerning the Atari 2600 VCS (you know, the old atari
video game system).
Does anyone know where I can find information about:
a.) The hardware (i.e. specs on the chips, instruction sets, etc.)
b.) How to program it, i.e. is there any assembler, or do people just use
eproms or what?
I am basically interested in finding out how the whole thing works, with an
eye to maybe writing a game for it.
Thank you in advance for any pointers you might have,
Chris Michael
P.S. You can reply to {seismo!ashtate,ihnp4!pwa-b}!mmintl!tedi, or
maybe just post a reply, or call Chris at 203-633-8868 if you get the
urge.
- Ted Ives
Ashton-Tate East Hartford Product Center
203-522-2116 ext. 297dyer@atari.UUCP (Landon Dyer) (08/12/87)
In article <2296@mmintl.UUCP>, tedi@mmintl.UUCP (ted ives) writes: > This is all concerning the Atari 2600 VCS (you know, the old atari > video game system). > > Does anyone know where I can find information about: > a.) The hardware (i.e. specs on the chips, instruction sets, etc.) > b.) How to program it, i.e. is there any assembler, or do people just use > eproms or what? > I am basically interested in finding out how the whole thing works, with an > eye to maybe writing a game for it. I don't /know/ of any public documentation on 2600 internals, but that doesn't mean there isn't any. But most of the documentation was 'stolen' from Atari, or reverse-engineered, and was kept secret. You still need to sign a non-disclosure to get the official docs from Atari. The machine is INCREDIBLY difficult to program. It's a 6507 with 128 bytes of RAMa PIA, abaroque video chip, and next to nothing else. The keyword here is PAIN. But there are a lot of base units out there.... -- -Landon Dyer, Atari Corporation {sun,amdcad,lll-lcc,imagen}!atari!dyer The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those BUSINESS of Atari or the AI software that has taken over my brain. IS Yow! I am waiting for my warranty-expired interrupt! HELL
cabbie@chinet.UUCP (Richard Andrews) (08/13/87)
In article <2296@mmintl.UUCP> tedi@mmintl.UUCP (ted ives) writes: >Does anyone know where I can find information about: > >a.) The hardware (i.e. specs on the chips, instruction sets, etc.) > >b.) How to program it, i.e. is there any assembler, or do people just use > eproms or what? The way to develop for the system is to use a 1200XL and a few odds and ends that you make yourself. (a static ram chip on a cart board that the 2600 would see as a ROM is a good place to start.) Use MAC-65. That is the only assembler that will cut it. > >I am basically interested in finding out how the whole thing works, with an >eye to maybe writing a game for it. > > Thank you in advance for any pointers you might have, > Chris Michael I have successfully obtained a set of documents from Atari on programming the 2600 game system. It mostly covers programming the TIA but gives a general overview of the system. Also you will find my notes on the 2600 helpful. I will post these to the net. The person that you want to talk to at Atari is Tom Sloper. Hope this helps. Rich A. P.S. If you do write a game for it, Tom Sloper would be very interested in it. -- ******************************************************************************* Any opinions expressed above are my own. Rich Andrews They can be yours too. Please send $19.95 to.....ihnp4!chinet!cabbie *******************************************************************************
long@sask.UUCP (Warren Long) (08/20/87)
Once upon a time, about 1 yr. ago, someone posted a whole pile of information about the 2600. I believe it contained virtually everything you could want to know about the machine (Ops, wiring, and hints). I had it saved for about 8 months, (for interests' sake) but then decided that realistically, I was never going to look at it again, so I deleted the file. However, I know it existed once, and therefore, someone must have a copy, even if only the guy who posted it!! Warren -- =-=-=-=-=-Warren Long at University of Saskatchewan, Canada-=-=-=-=- Home: 78 Carleton Dr.,Saskatoon, Sasakatchewan, S7H 3N6 Phone: (306)-955-1237 =-=-=-=-=-U-Email: ...!ihnp4!alberta!sask!long -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-