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Looking for a game dev system — Parallax Forums

Looking for a game dev system

rickm45rickm45 Posts: 4
in Propeller 1
Hi,

I am looking for a game dev system. Just a hobby so I can pick a micro or pc and I pick micro. I need some input to see where to go next. Sorry if I got the wrong forum. I have a few Propellers already so this seemed to be the place to go.

Part of the question is if I even need another system. I currently have a Propeller USB + El Jugador (2 SNES controller ports) and a QuickStart + QuickPlayer (for 2 WII Nunchuk ports). Both work fine and I like the Propeller. Really, I don't need another but this is a hobby! (I also have OBC's PMC.)

I have looked over the Hydra on the current www.ic0nstrux.com web site. It is older but I like the complete package. If I specifically want to do games, the Hydra seems to be the right one of their many offerings.

I have looked at the Uzebox kit from Adafruit. Seems to have a good following right now. And it gives me a reason to fire up the soldering iron. Big plus there.

Questions then become:
1. Can I do anything with a Hydra or Uzebox that I can't do with the El Jugador or QuickPlayer?
2. Is the Hydra just too old to be a viable purchase in 2016?
3. Switch to Uzebox?
4. Any other alternatives I should look at?

Thanks a lot for any comments or opinions. I just need a little input from others before I spend more money on micros.

Rick

Comments

  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    The Hydra is probably the best game development system using the Propeller. The manual itself is worth the price of admission.

    Another choice would be the C3, also by the designer of the Hydra:

    https://www.parallax.com/product/32209

    Almost half price off right now.

  • rickm45rickm45 Posts: 4
    I was looking at the C3 when I saw the price drop! I like the Hydra as a complete kit. But the C3 with all the outputs and extra memory on board is a bargain. I should be fully capable of wiring up a couple of game pad or nunchuk connectors myself. (I can, I just am not well known for finishing what I start. Hence the other 2 propeller boards.)

    Thanks, Rick
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    BTW, Welcome to the forums!

    Ask anytime. A helpful bunch here.
  • RoadsterRoadster Posts: 209
    I have a lot of propeller boards and even build a few of my own, the C3 is a better board then the hydra for the money and most of the games have been ported to run on on the C3.

    here is 1 of the boards that I made, it is an advanced version of the PMC, it uses a pic chip with micromite firmware as a basic interpreter and the propeller is used as a graphics slave
    http://electronicshobby.raspberryip.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14

    http://geoffg.net/micromite.html
  • msrobotsmsrobots Posts: 3,709
    I guess the best bet (and newest) is the LameStation at http://www.lamestation.com/

    Build for Game Development and based on a Propeller. Nice Libraries. Very active developer(s)
    .
    Just look for yourself.

    Mike
  • rickm45rickm45 Posts: 4
    Thanks. Two votes for the C3. It is a nice package at the price.

    I looked at the information on the LameStation web site. Very interesting and I think could be very successful if he can find his market niche. But I am looking for the "console" with vga/composite output vs a handheld system. I have a ~ 4" lcd that I use when I want to sit in front of the TV and code.

    I found the "bitbox", http://bitboxconsole.blogspot.com/p/getting-bitbox.html, but who knows what kind of activity will develop around it. There are a lot of resources for the propeller whether or not the Hydra or C3 are still actively marketed in the future.

    Thanks everyone
  • msrobotsmsrobots Posts: 3,709
    And there is the German Hive project.

    Very cool. http://hive-project.de/

    Mike
  • cbmeekscbmeeks Posts: 634
    I didn't know the C3 dropped almost in half. It's great that I paid the full $99 for mine. ;-/

  • David BetzDavid Betz Posts: 14,516
    cbmeeks wrote: »
    I didn't know the C3 dropped almost in half. It's great that I paid the full $99 for mine. ;-/
    Parallax is clearing them out but they should still be available through Andre' LaMothe's web site.

  • rickm45rickm45 Posts: 4
    I decided to order a QuickStart Human Intf Board and Protoboard instead of a C3. I already have 2 QuickStarts so "starting over" with a C3 seemed unnecessary. I'm also going to find a couple nunchuk adapters and look around for the Propeller Memory Board.

    Thanks for all the help,
    Rick

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