====== APF Imagination Machine (1978) ======
===== Features =====
* CPU: Motorola 6800 3.579 MHz
* Co-Processor: Motorola MC-6847P video display generator
* RAM: 9 KB expandable to 17 KB
* ROM: 14 KB
* Text Modes: 16 lines x 32 char. (8 colours)
* Graphic Modes: 128 x 192 (8 colours) - 256 x 192 (4 colours)
* Colors: 8
* Sound: Built-in music synthetiser & speaker, one channel, 5 octaves
* I/O Ports: TV aerial output, Microphone jack, expansion port
* Keyboard: Full-stroke keyboard - 53 keys
* Built in Media: 1500 baud, stereo cassette deck
* Peripherals: 5.25" disk drive unit, expansion box, RS-232 & 8 KB RAM cartridges
* Built in Language: APF Basic on cartridge
===== Usage =====
== Keyboard ==
This system requires full keyboard emulation to work correctly. At startup, full keyboard emulation mode is enabled by default. Whilst in full keyboard emulation mode, some key associated functionality may be disabled (like the ESC key for EXIT). The keyboard emulation mode is toggled using the "Scroll Lock" key (by default).
Original Keyboard: QWERTY full stroke keyboard, 53 keys
HERE
1! 2" 3# 4$ 5% 6& 7' 8( 9) 0 :* -= IS
LINE
ESC Q W E R T Y U I O_ P@ FEED RETURN
RUB
CTRL A S D F G H J K[ L\ ;+ OUT REPT BREAK
SHIFT Z X C V B N^ M] ,< .> /? SHIFT
SPACEBAR
== BASIC ==
In basic, pressing "FUNCTION" (currently mapped to "CTRL") and a letter/number will display a basic keyword making it easier to enter programs.
* FUNCTION + Q = IF
* FUNCTION + W = STEP
* FUNCTION + E = STOP
* FUNCTION + R = READ
* FUNCTION + T = NEXT
* FUNCTION + Y = PRINT
* FUNCTION + U = END
* FUNCTION + I = LIST
* FUNCTION + O = REM
* FUNCTION + P = USING
* FUNCTION + 1 = GOSUB
* FUNCTION + 2 = LET
* FUNCTION + 3 = DATA
* FUNCTION + 4 = INPUT
* FUNCTION + 5 = DIM
* FUNCTION + 6 = FOR
* FUNCTION + 7 = RETURN
* FUNCTION + 8 = THEN
* FUNCTION + 9 = ON
* FUNCTION + 0 = GOTO
* FUNCTION + - = RESTORE
* FUNCTION + ENTER = CLOAD
== Cassettes ==
MESS supports a "cassette" (cass) device for apfimag. It's possible to load either .wav or .apt cassette files, e.g. running at command line
mess apfimag -cass "C:\pathtogame\gamename.apt"
Once the emulation has started and you have written a program, you can use
CSAVE"<filename>"
to save the program to a file and
CLOAD""
to load the file back (or to load the cassette content at start).
== Floppy Disks ==
MESS supports two floppy drives for apfimag, corresponding to the devices "floppydisk1" (flop1) and "floppydisk2" (flop2). Basic disk images with the .apd extension are supported and can be loaded running
mess apfimag -flop1 "C:\pathtogame\gamename.apd"
Once the emulation has started and you have written a program, you can use
SAVE"<filename>"
to save the program to a file, and
LOAD"<filename>"
to load the file back (or to load the floppy content at start). You can also use
DIR <drive number>
(i.e. "DIR 0" or "DIR 1") to list the content of the disk.
===== Known Issues =====
* Cassette loading and saving is working
* Interrupts are not exact. I don't know enough about them, any info would be appreciated.
* Disc interface is working, but there may be some bugs.
* Keyboard emulation is almost ok
* The M6847 emulation is very advanced *BUT* I don't think I have set it up correctly for the APF Imagination, therefore the graphics are wrong.
* Memory emulation is not complete
===== History and Trivia =====
This strange hybrid computer came in two parts: a videogame console and a computer. The game system, called the APF MP-1000, was released in 1978. It had two controlers, each with a joystick and a numeric keypad. It came with a built-in game called "Rocket Patrol".
The computer console, the "Imagination Machine" was sold as an add-on for the MP-1000. You could also buy both at the same time (most people did). The computer has a 53-key standard typewriter keyboard, a built-in stereo cassette deck (1500 baud), a built-in sound-speaker and an internal operating system and BASIC language interpreter. The APF BASIC, delivered on cartridge, was quite poor. You had to use a lot of POKEs and CALLs to play with graphics. For example, to clear the screen, the command was CALL 17046.
The video game system nestled on top of the keyboard module. This computer add-on concept would later be used by several game system manufacturers like Coleco with their ColecoVision game system connected to the Adam Computer, or Intellivision and their ECS module (and keyboard component).
An additional disc interface was available.
//(info from old-computers.com)//
===== Links =====
* Imagination Machine page -- http://www.nausicaa.net/~lgreenf/apfpage.htm
* APF-M1000, APF-MP1000 & Imagination Machine F.A.Q. (by Sylvain De Chantal) -- http://www.digitpress.com/faq/apf.txt
* Imagination Machine at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=584
===== Other Emulators =====
* APF Imagination Machine Emulator (Enrique Collado's APF emu for DOS) -- http://www.nausicaa.net/~lgreenf/apfpage.htm
* Virtual APF (by emucompboy) -- http://www.geocities.com/emucompboy/
Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009