Intellivision Board details

[rubber_jonnie]

@raspberrypioneer

So, as part of my 'ongoing plans for retirement' and collecting up modern reproductions that I can use when I reduce my collection at some point down the line, I have pre-ordered the Intellivision Sprint.

It won't arrive until Christmas Eve (I'd be surprised if it actually arrives then). As I said, part of a bigger plan, but I don't retire for a while, so plenty of time to put the plan in place.

Amazon has it on pre-order for £99.99.

[raspberrypioneer]

Well, the reality is, I'm in France and The C64 is at home, so the chances of me doing anything with it tomorrow are slime to none...

I travel home on Sunday though and have monday off so will hopefully get right into it

Wish your daughter a happy birthday from me Not often you encounter somebody with a shared birthday.

Happy birthday! Looks like a treat in store for when you're back! Sadly, my daughter has no interest in my hobby (or possibly less than that), but my youngest does and actually played a few Intelly games when I got the console. No favourites though!

Have a good one!

[rubber_jonnie]

Well, the reality is, I'm in France and The C64 is at home, so the chances of me doing anything with it tomorrow are slime to none...

I travel home on Sunday though and have monday off so will hopefully get right into it

Wish your daughter a happy birthday from me Not often you encounter somebody with a shared birthday.

Happy birthday! Looks like a treat in store for when you're back! Sadly, my daughter has no interest in my hobby (or possibly less than that), but my youngest does and actually played a few Intelly games when I got the console. No favourites though!

Have a good one!

Thanks off out for a meal later, looking forward to playing with you C64 when I get home. Shame your daughter isn't interested but it's not for everyone. Hope she had a good day too.

[raspberrypioneer]

@raspberrypioneer

So, as part of my 'ongoing plans for retirement' and collecting up modern reproductions that I can use when I reduce my collection at some point down the line, I have pre-ordered the Intellivision Sprint.

It won't arrive until Christmas Eve (I'd be surprised if it actually arrives then). As I said, part of a bigger plan, but I don't retire for a while, so plenty of time to put the plan in place.

Amazon has it on pre-order for £99.99.

I seemed to have missed this one! Sounds like a good plan - the general consensus on the AtariAge forum is positive. Some people mention they can't use original cartridges but that wouldn't bother me, I think they've done a good job here.

I suspect it is more likely to be a new year present too and it will be interesting to see how you get on with it. I've got the Intellivision setup on RetroPie which uses the jzintv emulator, same as the Sprint. It's very good, the main challenge being the mapping of the Intellivision keypad to a joystick. You can get a long way with that though, especially using an xbox-style controller. Some games play better this way IMO, like AD&D and Tron DD.

Some time back, I created a controller using an Arduino with a TFT screen which displays the Intellivision overlays and accepts keypad input this way. It's pretty cool - it finds the overlay bmp file to use based on the game selected and displays it. RetroPie / Emulationstation is quite versatile allowing tweaks like that. It works well but ergonomic is certainly isn't! I should haul it out again for a laugh.

[raspberrypioneer]

Just seen another one for your retirement collection! The Amiga 1200

Never had an Amiga, but I think I might start here!

[rubber_jonnie]

I seemed to have missed this one! Sounds like a good plan - the general consensus on the AtariAge forum is positive. Some people mention they can't use original cartridges but that wouldn't bother me, I think they've done a good job here.

Yeah, it is looking generally to be quite well received. I'll probably do a mini review when mine arrives.

I suspect it is more likely to be a new year present too and it will be interesting to see how you get on with it. I've got the Intellivision setup on RetroPie which uses the jzintv emulator, same as the Sprint. It's very good, the main challenge being the mapping of the Intellivision keypad to a joystick. You can get a long way with that though, especially using an xbox-style controller. Some games play better this way IMO, like AD&D and Tron DD.

I'm not a fan of things like RetroPie personally, but the do fill a need and are great ways to do multiple things.

Yeah, the controllers were always going to be difficult to map in an emulator, but it looks like bar some compromises to make the controller wireless, they've done a good job, especially since it works with original overlays too. And of course the new overlays also work in the old controllers.

I expect you'd have a similar problem emulating a 5200 controller.

AD&D is a personal favourite of mine

Some time back, I created a controller using an Arduino with a TFT screen which displays the Intellivision overlays and accepts keypad input this way. It's pretty cool - it finds the overlay bmp file to use based on the game selected and displays it. RetroPie / Emulationstation is quite versatile allowing tweaks like that. It works well but ergonomic is certainly isn't! I should haul it out again for a laugh.

Sounds pretty cool, you should post about it

[rubber_jonnie]

Just seen another one for your retirement collection! The Amiga 1200

Never had an Amiga, but I think I might start here!

The price looks pretty reasonable, though I do have an A500 and an A1200 with an accelerator board, both with Goteks and both with HDMI out, so I'll have to wait and see on this one.

Of course the lack of a huge PSU and other improvements may make it somewhat more practical overall.

[raspberrypioneer]

Yeah, the controllers were always going to be difficult to map in an emulator, but it looks like bar some compromises to make the controller wireless, they've done a good job, especially since it works with original overlays too. And of course the new overlays also work in the old controllers.

I wonder if the Intellivision Sprint controllers could be used with RetroPie / jzintv. I can't tell if they're using Bluetooth - there could be a market (probably small) for just the controllers + overlays.

Sounds pretty cool, you should post about it

I should - if only it wasn't such a brick! It uses an Arduino Due which has lots of pins needed for the TFT/LCD and others for the additional buttons and joystick. There might be better options now with one of the new Uno models with a TFT screen hat. It would need a case, probably 3d printed, to hold it all together and fit nicely in your hand.

[raspberrypioneer]

Glad to see you got over the line

It is a weird thing with these machines that flickering. I don't believe it's capacitors and my voltages are all good, but at least it's resolving quicker now.

I've fixed this 100% now! I replaced the ribbon cable connector on the power board. It seemed fine so I left it in place (did a half-job ). I also gave all the boards a thorough clean with IPA and reflowed a few connections which didn't look 'nice' (although were probably ok). On powering up, no flicker at all, the picture is perfect (composite perfect ). Really pleased with this now, next up a 3d print for the Pirto cart.

[rubber_jonnie]

Yeah, the controllers were always going to be difficult to map in an emulator, but it looks like bar some compromises to make the controller wireless, they've done a good job, especially since it works with original overlays too. And of course the new overlays also work in the old controllers.

I wonder if the Intellivision Sprint controllers could be used with RetroPie / jzintv. I can't tell if they're using Bluetooth - there could be a market (probably small) for just the controllers + overlays.

Sounds pretty cool, you should post about it

I should - if only it wasn't such a brick! It uses an Arduino Due which has lots of pins needed for the TFT/LCD and others for the additional buttons and joystick. There might be better options now with one of the new Uno models with a TFT screen hat. It would need a case, probably 3d printed, to hold it all together and fit nicely in your hand.

I'd bet, just to be annoying, they're not Bluetooth

Post about it when you've unbricked it