CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia! - User contributions [en]

Texture Mapping Plus

2006-10-25T09:41:37Z

80.163.41.197:

'''Texture Mapping Plus''' a demo by [[Odiesoft]]

Release date: 1996

This demo shows a cube with texturemapping.

The viewer can choose between a normal CPC version or a CPC+ version.

Read more.[[http://www.odiesoft.de/amstrad/texture_plus.html]]]

<gallery caption="Texture Mapping Plus - screenshots">
Image:ENHTXTMAP screen shot 1.jpg|Control a light source
Image:ENHTXTMAP screen shot 2.jpg|
Image:ENHTXTMAP screen shot 3.jpg|
</gallery>

[[Category:Demos]]

Plus

2006-10-24T07:51:50Z

80.163.41.197: /* Demos */

<center><gallery caption="CPC+/GX4000">

image:6128plus_es.jpg|Spanish Amstrad CPC 6128 Plus
image:6128plus_fr_en_kanga.jpg|Airbrushed CPC 6128 plus
Image:Gx4000.jpg|The Amstrad GX4000
</gallery></center>

== Introduction ==

In 1990 Amstrad introduced the "Plus" series which tweaked the hardware in many ways and added a cartridge slot to all models. Most improvements were to the video display which saw an increase in palette to 4096 colours and gained a capacity for hardware sprites. Splitting the display into two separate windows and pixel scrolling both became full supported hardware features although both were possible on the non-"Plus" hardware using clever programming of the existing Motorola 6845.

An automatic DMA transfer system for feeding the sound chip was also added but the sound chip itself remained unchanged. Additionally, the BASIC command set for disc access was improved.

A cut down CPC+ without the keyboard nor support for non-cartridge media was released simultaneously as the GX4000 video game console.

These models did not do very well in the marketplace, failing to attract any substantial third party support. The 8-bit technology behind the CPC was starting to look a little out of date by 1990 and users resented the substantial price hike for cartridge games compared to their tape and disc counterparts. It's often forgotten that Europe had a large CPC following well supplied by Amstrad it's said the plus machines sold best in France.

''(Taken from Wikipedia.org)''

== The CPC Plus ==
'''CPC Plus''' can use cartridges released for the '''GX4000''', but specific software can be created using the extra features without the need of hardware (contrary as it was claimed by Amstrad in 1991). The extra features are not locked by an hardware mechanism but only by a special 17 bytes-lenght sequence send to the CRTC. So, it's possible for everyone to create his own software on the cpc plus, using the extra features available through a 16kb ASIC I/O page.
See [[Programming ASIC]]
Excepted the extra-features, the Cpc Plus is almost full compatible with the old generation. We can notice some minor differences in emulated components ([[PPI]], [[CRTC]], [[FDC]]) and in the interruption mechanism in vectorised mode.

=== Specific Software for Cpc Plus ===
==== Game creators ====
To complete

==== Non-cartridge games ====
* [[Fluff]] ([[Radical Software]])
* [[Stryker and the Crypts of Trogan]] ([[Codemasters]]) - enhanced for Plus

==== Graphic ====
* [[SMARTplus]] ([[Radical Software]])
To complete

===== Desktop publishing =====

===== Graphic utilities =====
* [[Kit 4096]] ([[Offset]])
* [[Sprite Editor]] ([[Blue Impuls]])
* [[SymPlay]] ([[Prodatron]])
* [[SymSee]] ([[Prodatron]])
To complete...
See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Music software ====
To complete with software able to use dma sound playlist...
See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Other ====
To complete

==== Graphical user interfaces / Shells ====
To complete
See [[Programming software]] for exact words

==== Operating Systems ====
To complete

==== Libraries ====
* [[B-ASIC]] ([[Logon System]])

==== Demos ====

* [[20, 21,22 February 1999 meeting Demo]] by [[Benediction]]
* [[4096 Preview]] ([[Kevin Thacker]])
* [[A Step Beyond]] by [[Dirty Minds]]
* [[ASM Intro 1]] by [[Flower corp.]]
* [[Basic Demo 3]]
* [[Demo Plus]] ([[GPA]])
* [[DMA music demo]] ([[Cadjo Clan]])
* [[Fantasy]] by [[Semilanceata]]
* [[Genesis demo]] ([[STS]])
* [[It was so nice before the crash of the mir station]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[Iron Demo 3]] by [[Iron]]
* [[Fire Engine demo]] (attributed to [[Roo-dolph]])
* [[Simply The Bests]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[System Party 97]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[Wulf]]/[[Ratz]] part of [[Palatine]]
* [[Ze Meeting 2000 Demo]] by [[Iron]]

* to complete

== The GX4000 Games Console ==
The GX4000 is a game console based on a CPC 464+ without a floppy controller or keyboard (although it is actually possible to modify one, add a floppy controller and a keyboard and use it as a CPC+). It was delivered with two game paddles (as the ones delivered with the CPC+ models) and Burning Rubber on cartidge (without basic).

The GX400 was [[Amstrad]]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.

=== Cartridges released for the GX4000 ===

* [[Barbarian 2]]
* [[Batman The Movie]]
* [[Burnin' Rubber]]
* [[Chase HQ 2]]
* [[Copter 271]]
* [[Crazy Cars#Crazy Cars II|Crazy Cars II]]
* [[Dick Tracy]]
* [[Enforcer (With Phazer)]]
* [[Fire and Forget 2]]
* [[Gazza II]]
* [[Klax]]
* [[Mystical]]
* [[Navy Seals]]
* [[No Exit]]
* [[Operation Thunderbolt]]
* [[Pang]]
* [[Panza kickboxing]]
* [[Plotting]]
* [[Pro Tennis Tour]]
* [[Robocop 2]]
* [[Skeet Shoot (With Phazer)]]
* [[Super Pinball Magic]]
* [[Switchblade]]
* [[Tennis Cup 2]]
* [[Tintin On the Moon]]
* [[Wild Streets]]
* [[World Of Sports]]

=== Weblinks ===
*[http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html Listing and pictures of Amstrad GX4000 games]
*[http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/carts.htm Complete list of GX 4000 games]

[[Category:Hardware]]

Plus

2006-10-24T07:51:14Z

80.163.41.197: /* Demos */

<center><gallery caption="CPC+/GX4000">

image:6128plus_es.jpg|Spanish Amstrad CPC 6128 Plus
image:6128plus_fr_en_kanga.jpg|Airbrushed CPC 6128 plus
Image:Gx4000.jpg|The Amstrad GX4000
</gallery></center>

== Introduction ==

In 1990 Amstrad introduced the "Plus" series which tweaked the hardware in many ways and added a cartridge slot to all models. Most improvements were to the video display which saw an increase in palette to 4096 colours and gained a capacity for hardware sprites. Splitting the display into two separate windows and pixel scrolling both became full supported hardware features although both were possible on the non-"Plus" hardware using clever programming of the existing Motorola 6845.

An automatic DMA transfer system for feeding the sound chip was also added but the sound chip itself remained unchanged. Additionally, the BASIC command set for disc access was improved.

A cut down CPC+ without the keyboard nor support for non-cartridge media was released simultaneously as the GX4000 video game console.

These models did not do very well in the marketplace, failing to attract any substantial third party support. The 8-bit technology behind the CPC was starting to look a little out of date by 1990 and users resented the substantial price hike for cartridge games compared to their tape and disc counterparts. It's often forgotten that Europe had a large CPC following well supplied by Amstrad it's said the plus machines sold best in France.

''(Taken from Wikipedia.org)''

== The CPC Plus ==
'''CPC Plus''' can use cartridges released for the '''GX4000''', but specific software can be created using the extra features without the need of hardware (contrary as it was claimed by Amstrad in 1991). The extra features are not locked by an hardware mechanism but only by a special 17 bytes-lenght sequence send to the CRTC. So, it's possible for everyone to create his own software on the cpc plus, using the extra features available through a 16kb ASIC I/O page.
See [[Programming ASIC]]
Excepted the extra-features, the Cpc Plus is almost full compatible with the old generation. We can notice some minor differences in emulated components ([[PPI]], [[CRTC]], [[FDC]]) and in the interruption mechanism in vectorised mode.

=== Specific Software for Cpc Plus ===
==== Game creators ====
To complete

==== Non-cartridge games ====
* [[Fluff]] ([[Radical Software]])
* [[Stryker and the Crypts of Trogan]] ([[Codemasters]]) - enhanced for Plus

==== Graphic ====
* [[SMARTplus]] ([[Radical Software]])
To complete

===== Desktop publishing =====

===== Graphic utilities =====
* [[Kit 4096]] ([[Offset]])
* [[Sprite Editor]] ([[Blue Impuls]])
* [[SymPlay]] ([[Prodatron]])
* [[SymSee]] ([[Prodatron]])
To complete...
See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Music software ====
To complete with software able to use dma sound playlist...
See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Other ====
To complete

==== Graphical user interfaces / Shells ====
To complete
See [[Programming software]] for exact words

==== Operating Systems ====
To complete

==== Libraries ====
* [[B-ASIC]] ([[Logon System]])

==== Demos ====

* [[20, 21,22 February 1999 meeting Demo]] by [[Benediction]]
* [[4096 Preview]] [[Kevin Thacker]]
* [[A Step Beyond]] by [[Dirty Minds]]
* [[ASM Intro 1]] by [[Flower corp.]]
* [[Basic Demo 3]]
* [[Demo Plus]] ([[GPA]])
* [[DMA music demo]] ([[Cadjo Clan]])
* [[Fantasy]] by [[Semilanceata]]
* [[Genesis demo]] ([[STS]])
* [[It was so nice before the crash of the mir station]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[Iron Demo 3]] by [[Iron]]
* [[Fire Engine demo]] (attributed to [[Roo-dolph]])
* [[Simply The Bests]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[System Party 97]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[Wulf]]/[[Ratz]] part of [[Palatine]]
* [[Ze Meeting 2000 Demo]] by [[Iron]]

* to complete

== The GX4000 Games Console ==
The GX4000 is a game console based on a CPC 464+ without a floppy controller or keyboard (although it is actually possible to modify one, add a floppy controller and a keyboard and use it as a CPC+). It was delivered with two game paddles (as the ones delivered with the CPC+ models) and Burning Rubber on cartidge (without basic).

The GX400 was [[Amstrad]]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.

=== Cartridges released for the GX4000 ===

* [[Barbarian 2]]
* [[Batman The Movie]]
* [[Burnin' Rubber]]
* [[Chase HQ 2]]
* [[Copter 271]]
* [[Crazy Cars#Crazy Cars II|Crazy Cars II]]
* [[Dick Tracy]]
* [[Enforcer (With Phazer)]]
* [[Fire and Forget 2]]
* [[Gazza II]]
* [[Klax]]
* [[Mystical]]
* [[Navy Seals]]
* [[No Exit]]
* [[Operation Thunderbolt]]
* [[Pang]]
* [[Panza kickboxing]]
* [[Plotting]]
* [[Pro Tennis Tour]]
* [[Robocop 2]]
* [[Skeet Shoot (With Phazer)]]
* [[Super Pinball Magic]]
* [[Switchblade]]
* [[Tennis Cup 2]]
* [[Tintin On the Moon]]
* [[Wild Streets]]
* [[World Of Sports]]

=== Weblinks ===
*[http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html Listing and pictures of Amstrad GX4000 games]
*[http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/carts.htm Complete list of GX 4000 games]

[[Category:Hardware]]

Dirty Minds

2006-10-17T07:07:06Z

80.163.41.197:

'''Dirty Minds''' is a Greek scene group.

== Members ==

* [[Antitec]]
* [[Optimus]]

== Productions ==

* [[Bombastic 98]](1998)
* [[A Step Beyond]] (2003)

[[Category:Scene group]]

Dirty Minds

2006-10-17T07:06:36Z

80.163.41.197:

'''Dirty Minds''' is a Greek scene group.

== Members ==

* [[Optimus]]

== Productions ==

* [[Bombastic 98]](1998)
* [[A Step Beyond]] (2003)

[[Category:Scene group]]

Bombastic 98

2006-10-17T07:04:27Z

80.163.41.197:

'''Bombastic 98''' is a megademo by the group [[Dirty Minds]]

Year: 1998

<gallery caption="The different parts of Bombastic 98">
Image:B98 screen shot 1.jpg
Image:B98 screen shot 2.jpg
Image:B98 screen shot 3.jpg
Image:B98 screen shot 4.jpg
Image:B98 screen shot 5.jpg
</gallery>

[[Category:Demos]][[Category:Stub]]

Bombastic 98

2006-10-17T07:04:04Z

80.163.41.197:

42-Crew Fractals Show II

2006-10-14T21:09:29Z

80.163.41.197:

42-Crew The first sound sampler

2006-10-14T21:05:54Z

80.163.41.197:

[[Image:421STSOU screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|300px|The first sound sampler]]

A demo by [[42-Crew]]

Release date: 1989

[[Category:Demos]]