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Apple ][ game server

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Re: Apple ][ game server

#41

Post by Retric »

jashmenn wrote: post #34

So I am basically clueless on how to transfer bits via audio without data loss (doesn't noise corrupt the bits?) Does anyone have any links or resources on how to do a 'hello world' of audio-based data transfer?

We think of bit's as vary precise things, but at the hardware level they are better described as ranges of values. So you could use a say X +/- 30% = 0 and Y +/- 30% = 1. Thus, if X = 100 and Y = 200, then 128 or 78 both stand for 0 and a computer would litterally not care if you sent it 98 or 115 etc.

You can also add a little redundancy in longer messages so you can tell if it's corrupted or if only a few bit's are flipped you may be able to recover. Also, devices can downgrade their bandwidth to handle some noise. Think of it like someone saying Tango when they mean T, if you hear T or ango you know they both stand for T.

You may want to check out this video. http://hackaday.com/2011/07/10/sound-card-microcontrollerpc-...

Re: Apple ][ game server

#42

Post by datajerk »

Urgo wrote: post #38

So very very cool! I bought an apple iie off ebay a year and a half ago since it was the first computer I ever used and had been meaning to get some games for it but just haven't had the time. When I saw this post today I was like a kid all over! I searched frantically for a cable to plug my phone into the apple iie but ended up having to go out and buy one but it was so worth it :) Anyway I put up a video about it a…

Excellent. Thanks. I added your video to the README page. Bummer HIFI didn't work for you. Try again with max volume or a different computer. It's not your Apple II.

Re: Apple ][ game server

#43

Post by Urgo »

datajerk wrote: post #42
Urgo wrote: post #38

So very very cool! I bought an apple iie off ebay a year and a half ago since it was the first computer I ever used and had been meaning to get some games for it but just haven't had the time. When I saw this post today I was like a kid all over! I searched frantically for a cable to plug my phone into the apple iie but ended up having to go out and buy one but it was so worth it :) Anyway I put up a video about it a…

Excellent. Thanks. I added your video to the README page. Bummer HIFI didn't work for you. Try again with max volume or a different computer. It's not your Apple II.

Oh cool, thanks :) I tried from both my phone and my netbook and it started off loading (it recognized the game name) but then spit out an ERROR and stopped. I'll try a different laptop later.

Re: Apple ][ game server

#44

Post by andrewflnr »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #25
boneheadmed wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nice. Anyone remember a game where essentially little paratroopers fall down from the sky and you have a cannon rotating on a turret to shoot them down? When you hit the little paratroopers they blew into little green pieces all over the screen. That was a blast. My sister sold our Apple IIe at a yard sale for like $8.00 in the mid 90's :(

Yes - that game was called Sabotage. You could play it with keyboard, joystick, or paddle, but paddles were the best way to win. I remember that you lost points if you just fired indiscriminately, as well. Here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbHW66AbzHA

Wow, is that actually letting the player shoot out the parachutes?

Re: Apple ][ game server

#45

Post by shubber »

andrewflnr wrote: post #44
jaysonelliot wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes - that game was called Sabotage. You could play it with keyboard, joystick, or paddle, but paddles were the best way to win. I remember that you lost points if you just fired indiscriminately, as well. Here's a vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbHW66AbzHA

Wow, is that actually letting the player shoot out the parachutes?

Yes it is. IIRC, extra points for shooting the parachute, then shooting the guy who was otherwise falling to his death. Simple and classic.

Re: Apple ][ game server

#46

Post by stewars »

Very cool. I had a flashback this fall after discovering an old book I made for some school project about programming the Apple 2. Code looked horrible (to my 2011 eyes) but with an emulator I was able to get it working. Those few old pages were the only traces left of my childhood programming.

Put the book and code up on github if anyone is interested: https://github.com/markstewart/ProgrammingIsFun

Re: Apple ][ game server

#47

Post by rbanffy »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #40
rbanffy wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sdisk is not that clever - I got it for a clone that has an onboard disk II and no slot 7. For the more Apple-like I got the CFFA, which is very smart and can emulate an HDD controller and a disk II

Thanks for the tip. I emailed the CFFA guy to get on the list for the next batch. How much did it cost? I can't see a price on his site.

I think it, complete, was about US$ 160. What really hit me was the Brazilian import tax. :-(

It hits me all the time, BTW.

Re: Apple ][ game server

#48

Post by wazoox »

thought_alarm wrote: post #5
wazoox wrote: post #3

OMG, I'd almost cry of joy. One of the reason I don't use my faithful Apple //c is that it's so cumbersome to swap these floppies... but this is wonderful.

Apple removed the cassette port in the Apple //c. If only they had known then what we know now...

Gah, you're right. Unfortunately alternative storage adapters are really hard to find (do they only exist?) for the //c.

Re: Apple ][ game server

#49

Post by jashmenn »

jeffbarr wrote: post #36
jashmenn wrote: post #34

So I am basically clueless on how to transfer bits via audio without data loss (doesn't noise corrupt the bits?) Does anyone have any links or resources on how to do a 'hello world' of audio-based data transfer?

Back in the old days, my young friend, we had these awesome devices called modems. They translated digital data to sounds (and back) for transmission across telephone lines. I'm sure you can find a picture and complete technical details somewhere.

facepalm I sure left myself wide open to that one. fwiw your comment led me to find minimodem is exactly what I was looking for!

http://www.whence.com/minimodem/

Re: Apple ][ game server

#50

Post by rumblestrut »

zak_mc_kracken wrote: post #32
rumblestrut wrote: post #12

In my Steve Jobs memorial ( http://www.ericjgruber.com/blog/2011/10/thank-you-steve-jobs... ), I opined about the Apple IIe and one of my favorite games growing up, Montezuma's Revenge. And sure enough, it's there. Seeing this made me wish I could play it again. Excellent job.

http://www.virtualapple.org/montezumasrevengedisk.html

Well I know what I'm doing today. Thanks!
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