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Is it worth it? — Parallax Forums

Is it worth it?

VaatiVaati Posts: 712
edited 2009-08-03 14:27 in Propeller 1
Is the HYDRA System & Propeller Game Development Kit worth the money?· I mean, it's a whopping $200!!!· That's a lot of greenbacks...

Comments

  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-03-30 21:21
    The question is "Is it worth $175?"... [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Anyway, the book is a really good introduction to the Propeller.
  • Nick McClickNick McClick Posts: 1,003
    edited 2009-03-30 22:43
    Of course it depends on what you plan on doing. If you want to do a lot of graphics, the book is invaluable. The Nintendo controller jack was a big deal, but Brian and I both offer boards that support it, now (and I'm sure a few others do, too).

    The content on the CD was also a big deal, but that's now on the object exchange (here's the zip).

    I bought my hydra before the NES controller jacks were available, but if I got it now, I'd go for the book and a development board, unless your interest is ONLY in videogame development. In which case, the hydra kit is all-inclusive and doesn't require any soldering. The expansion port is also interesting, but my skills aren't yet at the point to take advantage of it.

    Again: the book is great. You can go to amazon and pick up a 1,000 page book on videogame AI, but the book does a good job of sumarizing 'what you need to know about AI' in a chapter or two. The tone is a bit colloquial, but it doesn't meander. It also contains the first explanation of the graphics driver that made sense to me.

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  • RossHRossH Posts: 5,564
    edited 2009-04-01 00:32
    Yes.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2009-04-01 04:19
    I originally thought the same thing, "that's a lot of cash", and I took the
    protoboard route and built my own version of the Hydra.

    I got really hooked on the whole thing, and now several hundred dollars and
    three years later I've built various variations on a theme. So in truth, in the
    end I really didn't save any money not buying the Hydra kit.

    My take is this. If you want to learn to make games and programming, then
    by all means buy the Hydra. It's ready to go out of the box and you can jump
    right into learning game design and code.

    If you want to learn how the hardware goes together, then build something
    up from Nick, or Brian, or a protoboard with the Cookbook resources (see .sig)

    In the end it's not about saving money. If you get really hooked on the Prop, then
    you'll likely have more than one in your collection. [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Personally, I learned ALOT about electronics by building my own, unfortunately
    not as much about game programming. (Still studying the book.)

    Bottom line, it's all in what you want to learn. [noparse];)[/noparse]

    OBC

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    Post Edited (Oldbitcollector) : 4/7/2009 3:06:45 PM GMT
  • briankbbriankb Posts: 15
    edited 2009-04-06 21:49
    @Vaati - what did you end up buying?
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-04-07 13:46
    Nothing...· yet.· burger.gif
  • jerrisjerris Posts: 6
    edited 2009-05-25 13:56
    I bought my kit about 2 weeks ago and am just about through the entire book. There's so much source code to help get you going and the book does an amazing job of explaining every little detail about the hydra (and by consequence, circuit design techniques). If you're looking for an invaluable set of tools to give you a jump start on game programming, and programming in gerneral for the Propeller, then absolutely yes, it's worth it and more. The book is very well written and does a great job of keeping even the most mundane (albiet, very important) information at least somewhat entertaining. Also, they really do try to give you as much bang for your buck as possible with a bunch of bonus stuff that comes with the companion CD (royalty free demos, sprites, tile maps, music clips, sound effects, etc), and even throw in an extra eBook or two.

    However, if you're already a pro with circuit design and low level assembly language programming, then you can probably just build a makeshift hydra yourself for about a quarter of the price. It all depends on your experience level. For me, it was exactly what I needed to get programming on the propeller quickly and start pumping out programs and games almost immediately. At any rate, I have no regrets about shelling out the 200 bones and feel like I got what I paid for and more, but that's just my opinion.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-05-27 00:11
    Yes, it is absolutely worth it!

    The HYDRA is a gate-way to new worlds. There's so much
    you can do with it! Not only is it a great learning experience,
    but it can become the food to satisfy your appetite for
    countless programming and hardware projects. The book
    has 812 pages and is comprehensive and complete. The
    CD has lots of material, programs, games, languages,
    tutorials, - it looks like it was years in development, so
    it's a great bargain! It's kind of like a big Prop Demo
    board on steroids with a big brain. There's a duality benefit
    because when you know HYDRA, you will know the Propeller.

    For one thing, the 128K EEPROM is amazing, and the game
    card can load up more programs. Granted, it's a wizard of a
    board for game programming and learning - but immediately
    you can find countless uses, applications and expansions for it.
    You'll wonder how you lived without it! I would highly
    recommend it. The cost is much less than a university class,
    and you're likely to learn more with HYDRA when taking the
    initiative.

    humanoido

    Post Edited (humanoido) : 5/27/2009 12:16:37 AM GMT
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2009-05-27 02:10
    humanoido said...
    Yes, it is absolutely worth it!

    The HYDRA is a gate-way to new worlds. There's so much
    you can do with it! Not only is it a great learning experience,
    but it can become the food to satisfy your appetite for
    countless programming and hardware projects.

    Thou hast tasted the forbidden fruit, and hath forsaken the lowly BS2.

    Glad the Prop has a new convert... [noparse]:)[/noparse]
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-05-27 02:44
    Well, I am going to keep saving up, and make a decision once I have enough. Still, those PPDB's look slick.... smile.gif Or.... Maybe a bunch of SX stuff... I dunno.....

    Thanks for the advice.

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  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-06-05 11:08
    @Vaati: Those PPDB do look good, but I don't know about you; The reason I got started on the Propeller is because I wanted keyboard and mouse input along with TV and Graphics. This book and kit are EXTRA VITAL if you want to do graphics and input. There's also the fact that it can do vidio games; the only disadvantage is that there is no open pins to experiment with. The board relly needs a breadboard and pin socket.

    P.S. HEY VAATI!!! YOU STOLE MY LINE!!!! smile.gif (the, "My head is SPINing" part)

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  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-05 11:29
    Oh! Thats where I saw it! smile.gif Well, I hope it's okay with you... I had to learn SPIN in 4 days, so....

    That is exactly what I want to do with my prop--have human input and video output. So, you're saying the HYDRA is for me?


    Thanks.

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-06-05 12:45
    Yes, if you don't care that there is no pinout but through the game card slot then this is the thing for you. If your needs are keyboard and mouse input and vidio or VGA output then the hydra is perfect; oh...and it also has NES sockets. I think this is the thing for you.

    P.S. You can use my line, I don't care. I just want credit for it! smile.gif (just kidding)

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Toys are microcontroled.
    Robots are microcontroled.
    I am microcontrolled.
  • HumanoidoHumanoido Posts: 5,770
    edited 2009-06-05 14:35
    SRLM said...
    Thou hast tasted the forbidden fruit, and hath forsaken the lowly BS2.
    You sound a little Shakespearean/Biblical today. [noparse]:)[/noparse] However, to set the record straight, it's the BS1 high at the top of the list with the King Grandfather title. Next, the BS2 is way high up the ladder as Master and the Father of all things. The HYDRA is the new kid on the block, the next generation so to speak. It's the most useful family ever created in my opinion.

    humanoido
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-06-05 21:08
    @Vaati: I found this by chance and just thought that you would like to know.... you didn't steal my line after all!!! It was first mentioned as a joke in this disscussion on the first page.
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=571084

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    Toys are microcontroled.
    Robots are microcontroled.
    I am microcontrolled.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-06-05 22:56
    Oh wow.... That's pretty funny... [noparse];)[/noparse] Well, I think that the HYDRA is for me, and I need to keep saving up for it.

    Thanks.

    PS: For those of you who want to get a good power supply for your projects while funding my HYDRA campaign, see my signature. (please, buy my product!) smile.gif

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-06-05 23:23
    I was actully considering buying it, considering I just won $180 worth of products for posting the 100,002 post in the Propeller forum. (Read under "100,000 post" in the Propeller forum; it's really quite interesting and shows the care of Parallax to thier customers) Now I can stop saving up for those items and I very badly need a power supply so I might buy it. I am registered with GG too, I've just never made a project.

    Save up for that Hydra, it will be worth it!

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Toys are microcontroled.
    Robots are microcontroled.
    I am microcontrolled.
  • VaatiVaati Posts: 712
    edited 2009-07-29 22:37
    Woohoo! I got the connector used for the HYDRA today in the mail from digikey, and I also ordered the HYDRA book. So, what sort of stuff is in the HYDRA book--It had better be worth it... smile.gif

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    Quit buying all those fixed voltage regulators, and·get an Adjustable Power Supply·for your projects!· Includes an LED testing terminal!

    *-NEW-* SD Card Adapter·Now available!· Add extra memory to your next Propeller project with ease!
  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2009-08-03 14:27
    The HYDRA book is GREAT if you like working with TV and graphics!

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    Toys are microcontroled.
    Robots are microcontroled.
    I am microcontroled.


    If it's not Parallax then don't even bother. :-)
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