Check out the new 8-bit TV-Computer from the Maker Shed. It’s a great hackable computer that includes a BASIC programming language with a sprite manipulator. Who doesn’t like classic 8-Bit computers, especially all that nostalgic music? Did I mention you can play your old 8-bit games with an additional adapter? (not included) Check out the link for a lot more information about the 8-bit computer system, including how to play your classic game cartridges!
Features
- Contains a 1Mhz 6502 chip–the same technology that ushered in the “Home Computer Revolution” in the 1980s
- Each box comes with a keyboard, mouse, 2 game controllers, operating system cartridge, RCA cables (NTSC video and stereo audio), and a 9 volt power supply.
- Plays 8-bit 60-pin Japanese game cartridges (such as Famicom cartridges, or NES cartridges with an NES to FC converter)
- Supplied Cartridge comes with:
- Mandarin Chinese 8-bit GUI with English DOS prompt
- BASIC programming language and sprite manipulator (in English)
- 8-bit Music composer
- “Visual Theremin” Mode
More about the 8-bit TV-Computer
Also available in the Maker Shed: 72 Pin – 60 Pin Converter (Must have 8-bit TV-Computer)
Do you have a drawer full of 8-bit NES cartridges, but your Nintendo console will only give you the “Slow Blink of Death?” Are you tired of blowing on your cartridges, with no success? A TV-Computer (sold here) and this 72-pin to 60-pin converter will help you bring your cartridges back to life! Very hard to find!
More about the 72 Pin – 60 Pin Converter
24 thoughts on “In the Maker Shed: 8-bit TV-Computer & 72 pin adapter”
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Hey, I have an 8-bit TV-computer in my basement. It even had BASIC built in and was based on a hacked 6502 chip. We called it a Commodore 64.
Actually this product does sound kind of interesting, but just for the nostalgia factor.
@ The Oracle
Haha, I wish I had one of those tucked away in my basement! However, I do have a Texas Instruments TI something….somewhere?
How much RAM does it have? Does it have any removable storage?
heres some hardware info:
this playpower is actually a famicon/nes
this is nes hardware info:
http://dev.playpower.org/tiki-index.php?page=Learn+about+the+Playpower+Platform
@Joe G
We are working on getting a lot more information posted.
Well, there’s not too much to say about it at this point. The processor is an NES on-a-chip, so all of the RAM, Video and sound are in one chip. It’s based on the Ricoh 2A03 processor which is a modified 6502 chip. At this point, there’s no storage, and the cartridge port appears to be the only way to load software (the PowerPlay team appears to have a built a loadable cartridge for testing). Also, the chip probably has 2k of memory built in (which is standard for NES systems), and that can be expanded with a cartridge.
So far, that’s all the info I’ve been able to pull together, but I plan to void the warranty (if it even has one) as soon as mine arrives. I’ll probably try to figure out the pin outs on the main chip first.
There’s a lot of work to be done to reach the Power Play teams goal, but isn’t that the fun part really =).
Awesome! Thanks for all the info. (I’m waiting for mine too!)
More info on NES hardware and programming can be found here:
http://nesdev.parodius.com/
As for the converter, chances are that if you have a large collection of NES games, you probably already (unknowingly) have an adapter in your possession!
The history behind this has to do with Nintendo wanting to be sure to have enough games in stock for the first Christmas season after releasing the NES in the U.S.–they couldn’t make the games on NES boards fast enough, so the games were instead made on Famicom cartridge boards, and these were simply fitted with a Famicom-to-NES adapter in the Game Pak.
So, if you have older games (I’ve done this with an old copy of Gyromite) that typically feel just a little bit heavier than newer ones, you can probably open it up and find your own adapter at no cost to you (assuming you already have the NES cartridge screwdriver bit).
Wow, that’s a great tip. I have to go check mine. Thanks!
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