Stuff and Things.

[raspberrypioneer]

Thanks to a hint from @raspberrypioneer I have a LOCI now for my sadly neglected ORIC Atmos :)

And it has a neat menu accessed via the red button:

The black button being a very convenient reset.

Next up I need to go and get some cassette and disk images to try it out :)

Glad you're enjoying the LOCI. Despite being an 'end product', further development is explained on the Oric forum. You've probably seen already - there's the pretty comprehensive github page with instructions, including to upgrade the LOCI firmware although I've not needed to go there yet!

Being able to use the Atmos Basic ROM, makes this device 'essential' for me as an Oric-1 owner, otherwise many of the best games would not work. I have a mix of DSK and TAP program files and the LOCI loads them up in seconds. I'm hoping the developer might advance the bit about HID devices ideally to incorporate USB joysticks. The Oric-1 keyboard isn't bad but not Atmos standard, so a joystick would be nice. Ideally something like the Electron ElkSD128 where keys can be mapped to joystick controls.

I've got the white LOCI case to (kind of) match the Oric-1.

oric-loci.jpg

I'd also recommend looking at these games: Oricium, Pulsoids and Stormlord. Impressive what can be achieved! The way colour is plotted on the Oric is very quirky, but some clever developers found some crafty workarounds.

[rubber_jonnie]

Glad you're enjoying the LOCI. Despite being an 'end product', further development is explained on the Oric forum. You've probably seen already - there's the pretty comprehensive github page with instructions, including to upgrade the LOCI firmware although I've not needed to go there yet!

Compared to my Erebus, the LOCI is just amazing. I was a bit disappointed the Erebus wouldn't do disks, and the LOCI cost me a lot less than the Erebus too. The user guide is great :)

Being able to use the Atmos Basic ROM, makes this device 'essential' for me as an Oric-1 owner, otherwise many of the best games would not work. I have a mix of DSK and TAP program files and the LOCI loads them up in seconds. I'm hoping the developer might advance the bit about HID devices ideally to incorporate USB joysticks. The Oric-1 keyboard isn't bad but not Atmos standard, so a joystick would be nice. Ideally something like the Electron ElkSD128 where keys can be mapped to joystick controls.

I've got the white LOCI case to (kind of) match the Oric-1.

I'd also recommend looking at these games: Oricium, Pulsoids and Stormlord. Impressive what can be achieved! The way colour is plotted on the Oric is very quirky, but some clever developers found some crafty workarounds.

I can imagine having the Atmos ROM available is a huge help. I agree, joystick support would be a good thing, again though, how many joysticks have USB C connectors? I do like the Atmos keyboard though.

I've already downloaded the games you've recommended, but not tried them all as yet, possibly later today. I've got a mix of tap and dsk too and next I want to figure out how to copy from USB to internal memory. The Joystick option seemed a bit odd given that it has USB C, and I've never seen a USB C mouse before.

I think the white works better with your Oric 1. It's funny, I kind of wish I still had the Oric 1 I bought BITD, but dead is dead and they didn't have a replacement in the store.

[raspberrypioneer]

Compared to my Erebus, the LOCI is just amazing. I was a bit disappointed the Erebus wouldn't do disks, and the LOCI cost me a lot less than the Erebus too. The user guide is great :)

I assumed I'd get an Erebus initially and assumed I'd have to replace the Oric ROM too, so the LOCI was a very welcome find. Just lucky timing wise as its quite new.

I can imagine having the Atmos ROM available is a huge help. I agree, joystick support would be a good thing, again though, how many joysticks have USB C connectors? I do like the Atmos keyboard though.

I've already downloaded the games you've recommended, but not tried them all as yet, possibly later today. I've got a mix of tap and dsk too and next I want to figure out how to copy from USB to internal memory. The Joystick option seemed a bit odd given that it has USB C, and I've never seen a USB C mouse before.

I think the white works better with your Oric 1. It's funny, I kind of wish I still had the Oric 1 I bought BITD, but dead is dead and they didn't have a replacement in the store.

Yes USB-C is odd for that though it supports a USB hub for expansion (I've not tried that). An adapter might work for just a USB mouse, and maybe USB joystick in future. Not used the mouse option and not aware of any programs which need one!

I had to copy programs on USB memory to the internal memory using the Oric/LOCI. I worked on the basis of if I liked the game, I'd add it to internal memory, which means I don't need to bother with the USB memory stick always being plugged into the Oric. I've got a couple of dozen games on my 'good' list which are in internal memory - happy to share this rather subjective list if you want to see more 'good' games. :)

[rubber_jonnie]

I assumed I'd get an Erebus initially and assumed I'd have to replace the Oric ROM too, so the LOCI was a very welcome find. Just lucky timing wise as its quite new.

IIRC the only thing available was the Erebus at the time, so I'm glad LOCI has come a long to take the number 1 spot.

Yes USB-C is odd for that though it supports a USB hub for expansion (I've not tried that). An adapter might work for just a USB mouse, and maybe USB joystick in future. Not used the mouse option and not aware of any programs which need one!

I think Blake's 7 does indeed use a mouse if one is available.

I had to copy programs on USB memory to the internal memory using the Oric/LOCI. I worked on the basis of if I liked the game, I'd add it to internal memory, which means I don't need to bother with the USB memory stick always being plugged into the Oric. I've got a couple of dozen games on my 'good' list which are in internal memory - happy to share this rather subjective list if you want to see more 'good' games. :)

Feel free to share your list. I just downloaded a huge collection of games, I may have them all now!!

USB stick isn't the end of the world, but favourites on the LOCI does seem like a good idea.

[raspberrypioneer]

I think Blake's 7 does indeed use a mouse if one is available.

Ahh! I'll dig out some adapters that will be nice to try.

Feel free to share your list. I just downloaded a huge collection of games, I may have them all now!!

USB stick isn't the end of the world, but favourites on the LOCI does seem like a good idea.

There are so many to trawl through (a bit and miss in itself). Here are the ones I rated the most! :)

1337.dsk - Elite for the Oric. Looks great
Blake's 7.dsk - Graphic adventure, well made game
Chess.tap - Plays a decent game, same as v3.48
Oricium.tap - Uridium type, good game, great music
PETSCII Robots.dsk - Scroller, puzzle solver. Good game
Pulsoids.dsk - Arkanoid / breakout like. Decent
Space 1999.dsk - Isometric adventure, looks good, will take time to get into
Stormlord.tap - Dungeon explore, decent
Boulder Dash.tap - Boulder Dash 1,2,3,+1 and Arno
Manic Miner.tap - Very good Manic Miner
Don't Press Q.tap - Mini games, quite good
Hnefatafl.dsk - Board game, looks good, need instructions
Impossible Mission.tap - Looks good but too hard to play well
Invaders.tap - Space Invaders
Maze Rally.dsk - Rally-X, quite good
Rodman.tap - Pacman like game, well made
Speedball.dsk - Maze puzzler
Super Meteors.tap - Asteroids
Tetriskov.tap - Tetris
Xenon 1.tap - Phoenix type, quite good
Zebulon.dsk - Cave puzzle game
Zip n Zap.dsk - Maze puzzler, looks decent
Zorgon's Revenge.tap - Mini games, quite good

[rubber_jonnie]

I think Blake's 7 does indeed use a mouse if one is available.

Ahh! I'll dig out some adapters that will be nice to try.

Feel free to share your list. I just downloaded a huge collection of games, I may have them all now!!

USB stick isn't the end of the world, but favourites on the LOCI does seem like a good idea.

There are so many to trawl through (a bit and miss in itself). Here are the ones I rated the most! :)

1337.dsk - Elite for the Oric. Looks great
Blake's 7.dsk - Graphic adventure, well made game
Chess.tap - Plays a decent game, same as v3.48
Oricium.tap - Uridium type, good game, great music
PETSCII Robots.dsk - Scroller, puzzle solver. Good game
Pulsoids.dsk - Arkanoid / breakout like. Decent
Space 1999.dsk - Isometric adventure, looks good, will take time to get into
Stormlord.tap - Dungeon explore, decent
Boulder Dash.tap - Boulder Dash 1,2,3,+1 and Arno
Manic Miner.tap - Very good Manic Miner
Don't Press Q.tap - Mini games, quite good
Hnefatafl.dsk - Board game, looks good, need instructions
Impossible Mission.tap - Looks good but too hard to play well
Invaders.tap - Space Invaders
Maze Rally.dsk - Rally-X, quite good
Rodman.tap - Pacman like game, well made
Speedball.dsk - Maze puzzler
Super Meteors.tap - Asteroids
Tetriskov.tap - Tetris
Xenon 1.tap - Phoenix type, quite good
Zebulon.dsk - Cave puzzle game
Zip n Zap.dsk - Maze puzzler, looks decent
Zorgon's Revenge.tap - Mini games, quite good

I definitely have some of those already, will try and have a play later. Annoyingly as it's RGB out over SCART it isn't working with either of the SCART to HDMI adapters I have :( I guess they only work with composite over SCART to HDMI.

Nevertheless it works fine on the TV, so I may do a bit of jiggling around and put a SCART multi socket into one of the TVs on my bench.

[Icky]

RAM pack is the next thing to fix, then maybe see about getting a ZXPAND interface for it. Also have a Spectrum + that's in the queue for the operating table.

Did you manage to get a ZXPAND @rubber_jonnie. I just ordered one.

[rubber_jonnie]

RAM pack is the next thing to fix, then maybe see about getting a ZXPAND interface for it. Also have a Spectrum + that's in the queue for the operating table.

Did you manage to get a ZXPAND @rubber_jonnie. I just ordered one.

I did and it's pretty good, SD card access on a ZX81, who'd have thought it.

BTW I posted that 5 years ago!

[rubber_jonnie]

@raspberrypioneer

I managed to download a TOSEC archive over the weekend and now have nearly 1300 DSK and TAP files on my USB stick.

I suspect it'll take some time to figure out which ones are good/bad...

[Icky]

I did and it's pretty good, SD card access on a ZX81, who'd have thought it.

BTW I posted that 5 years ago!

I searched in your thread as I thought you would have one. Wow 5 years, how many machines have you acquired since then :)