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+--- Thread: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? (/thread-579.html)
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TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - CheshireNoir - 11-10-2022
Hey Folks,
How much effort is involved in porting games from the TRS-80 to the Microbee? I know there are quite a few games that have been ported across already.
(This seems like it would be the wheelhouse of @someone from past posts)
I only ask as I recently saw a demo of Thirteen Ghosts for the TRS-80 and it struck me that it'd make an excellent game to target for our beloved 'bee.
Any comments welcomed!
John
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - RedskullDC - 11-10-2022
Hi John,
Not too difficult to be honest.
You may need to re-locate the TRS-80 exe code, as most disk loadable games begin above $5200.
Screen accesses will need to be patched TRS-80 ($3C00-$3FFF) => HiMEM on Bee.
You'll need to write routines to pre-load the programmable GFx chars on the Bee with TRS-80 Gfx.
You'll need some routines which take Bee Keypresses, and simulate press/release in the TRS-80 keyboard area ($3800-$3880) (iirc).
Take a look at the BIG-5 conversions downloadable from here. (Galaxy Invasion, Cosmic Fighter etc.)
Most of that work will already be done for you.
I did a few Exidy Sorcerer conversions a few years ago, which is a very similar process.
Cheers,
Leslie
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - CheshireNoir - 12-10-2022
Thanks Leslie!
Don't know how long this'll take, but I guess I've got a project :-D
John
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - ChickenMan - 12-10-2022
I've converted quite a few of the DUBOIS AND MCNAMARA TRS-80 games to the run on the 'bee some years back. These are the steps I took -
1. Change ORG to 900h
2. Call 8027h (LORES) that sets up the TRS-80 graphics
3. Change all reference to TRS-80 screen mem ((3C00h-3FFFh) to F000h to F3FFh.
4. Change their SOUND code to suit the Microbee
5. Add a code routine to look for a key press and then change the code to use that routine. This is the hardest part I find.
Have a read of the porting_meteor_mission_2_to_microbee.pdf file by Brad Robinson. Its in the Microbee/Documentation/Articles folder in the Repository as it explains the whole process in detail.
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - someone - 13-10-2022
Don't forget to make allowances for self modifying code.
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - CheshireNoir - 16-10-2022
@someone that's amazing!
John
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - ChickenMan - 16-10-2022
I had a look across the net and cant seem to find it, thought I'd try it on my System 80
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - CheshireNoir - 16-10-2022
Funny you should mention the System 80...
I picked up an untested blue label System 80 this morning!
John
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - RedskullDC - 16-10-2022
(16-10-2022, 04:43 PM)ChickenMan Wrote: I had a look across the net and cant seem to find it, thought I'd try it on my System 80
Check out: https://willus.com/trs80/
Near the top of the page, items #5,6,7,8
Cheers,
Leslie
RE: TRS-80 to Microbee Conversion? - ChickenMan - 17-10-2022
Arr, thanks Leslie, I was searching for Thirteen Ghosts not 13 Ghosts
Soon discovered I already have it in my TRS-80 file collection