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XGameStation, is it selling ? — Parallax Forums

XGameStation, is it selling ?

inakiinaki Posts: 262
edited 2005-05-09 23:01 in General Discussion
To the·Parallax people in this forum, is XGameSataton selling ?·I see very few people on the internet with practical experience on this board. ·

Comments

  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-04-30 16:46
    I was just released a few weeks ago. And yes, it is selling. In time you'll see more customer projects I'm sure.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas, TX· USA
  • inakiinaki Posts: 262
    edited 2005-04-30 17:13
    Thanks. I am very interested on this board but for some reason I don't see much interest on it on the internet. I have experience with PIC microcontrollers but I am amazed at the speed of the SX series. Actually it seems unbeliable they are able to manage decent video games in real time. By the way, would the SX Professional Development board be better than this board to taste the SX power ?
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-04-30 17:53
    It depends on what level of interest you have, are you seeking to·develop systems of your own design or program computer games or other TV applications? It is difficult (but not impossible) to do color television from a bare SX (B/W TV is easy though, the XGS has a special color generation chip to generate the color TV info). The XGS has libraries to perform the low level interface for you, you would have to write these yourself for the SX Pro Board. The XGS does not provide the expandibility of the SX Pro Board, and finally the SX Pro board is not availible yet.
  • Chris SavageChris Savage Parallax Engineering Posts: 14,406
    edited 2005-04-30 19:06
    Hello,

    ·· Also a big difference is that the XGS uses the SX52, while the PDB supports the SX28.



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    Chris Savage
    Parallax Tech Support
    csavage@parallax.com
  • kb2hapkb2hap Posts: 218
    edited 2005-04-30 19:43
    Check out Richard's SX page all he uses is pretty much an SX and a resistor network to make color SX games (Pong and Tetris) this will give you an idea of what you can do for $15 and a whole bunch of time.

    http://www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/video/sx/pong.php

    If you got the cash I would get both the XGS and the developement board.
    also check out what others have done with the SX

    http://www.parallax.com/sx/index.asp

    http://www.parallax.com/sx/projects/projects.asp

    neat stuff...If this stuff doesn't get you into it then I don't know what will.
    It all caught my eye.

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    DTQ
  • ForrestForrest Posts: 1,341
    edited 2005-04-30 21:54
    Rickard's SX game system posted on the link above is a great project - I built one a few weeks ago and it works. You'll need an SK-Key to program it ($79 or $89 for the SX Tookit Lite) and the parts cost will run you about $25 total. The most expensive part is the programmable oscillator (which I bought thru Digikey already programmed) for $8.14.
  • Guenther DaubachGuenther Daubach Posts: 1,321
    edited 2005-04-30 22:01
    IMO, the XGS is not just a board stuffed with an SX52 (over-)clocked at high speed plus a bunch of additional components for computer games.

    I think, this is really a "knowledge package" because the CD that ships together with the XGS contains tons of valuable information about electronics, hardware, programming, and computer game design which - alone - would be worth the price of the whole package.

    Besides its intended purpose (i.e. for computer games), the XGS can also be used for other high-speed controlling tasks, especially because of the available expansion port and the blank expansion board which is included in the package.

    vy 73 de DK4TT

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    Greetings from Germany,

    G
  • inakiinaki Posts: 262
    edited 2005-04-30 23:03
    I am not contemplating the XGS board as a board to make video games. I am not specially fond of video games programing. For video game programing there are other platforms. I see this board as a learning tool. That's why I asked about the SX Pro Development Board too.

    For starters I will order the XGS. By the way,·is PAL version available from Parallax?. I am somewhat confused about the options·included in the package·from·Parallax and ·Nurve Networks.
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,418
    edited 2005-04-30 23:24
    Inaki,

    The Parallax version includes the SX-Key and Guenther's book, otherwise it is the same as Andre' Lamothe's XGS. I'm pretty certain we include both PAL and NTSC crystals - I'll verify with Andre'. As for it selling, yes, we have nearly sold our first batch of 20 units. Be sure to download the documentation from Nurve.Net prior to purchasing. I think the book which comes with the XGS is well-done.

    Ken Gracey
    Parallax, Inc
  • Paul BakerPaul Baker Posts: 6,351
    edited 2005-05-01 00:48
    If I remember correctly there is more difference between NTSC and PAL than frequency, I believe PAL uses a different modulation of the color signal than NTSC.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-05-01 01:02
    The XGS should get a boost when the new version (1.20) of SX/B is released. It will allow you to write games in BASIC.
    The XGS has quite a bit of hardware.
    128K SRAM, color video generator, 3 channel sound generator, joystick ports, PS2 keyboard port, SX52(80MHz) AND SX20(4MHz) microcontrollers.

    Attached is a slightly modified version of the PONG game that is on the XGS website.
    It breaks the XGS functions into SX/B subroutines. It also allows single player mode by pressing UP on the joystick when you press the joystick button to start the game.

    If you don't the the SX/B 1.20 compiler you can load the SRC file to play the game.

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    "SX-Video Display Module" Available Now.

    www.sxvm.com

    "A problem well defined, is a problem·half solved."
    zip
    zip
    sxb_pong_1_1.zip
    38K
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-05-01 02:55
    Paul, your right. The programs are different for NTSC or PAL, but you also need the PAL color burst xtal to do PAL.
    And I believe the one from Parallax only had the NTSC xtal (not positive).
    Bean.

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    "SX-Video Display Module" Available Now.

    www.sxvm.com

    "A problem well defined, is a problem·half solved."
    ·
  • Jon WilliamsJon Williams Posts: 6,491
    edited 2005-05-01 04:33
    SX/B Version 1.21 files are now available in the sticky post at the top of this thread -- download and extract them (as required) into your SX/B compiler folder.

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    Jon Williams
    Applications Engineer, Parallax
    Dallas, TX· USA

    Post Edited (Jon Williams) : 5/1/2005 4:18:19 PM GMT
  • Ken GraceyKen Gracey Posts: 7,418
    edited 2005-05-01 15:42
    Inaki,

    Our kits include both PAL and NTSC crystals.

    Ken Gracey
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2005-05-01 22:37
    I stand corrected. I didn't remeber seeing the PAL xtal.
    Thanks Ken.
    Bean

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    "SX-Video Display Module" Available Now.

    www.sxvm.com

    "I thought I was wrong once...But I was mistaken [noparse];)[/noparse]"
    ·
  • Ryan ClarkeRyan Clarke Posts: 738
    edited 2005-05-09 21:27
    kb2hap said...
    Check out Richard's SX page all he uses is pretty much an SX and a resistor network to make color SX games (Pong and Tetris) this will give you an idea of what you can do for $15 and a whole bunch of time.


    http://www.rickard.gunee.com/projects/video/sx/pong.php


    Sorry to dig up a dead thread, but I just read through the info on Rickard's page, and it was EXTREMELY interesting and informative! Alot of work went into that page, not just to step you through building the projects, but to understand how they work as well! Excellent site.

    Ryan
  • dandreaedandreae Posts: 1,375
    edited 2005-05-09 23:01
    Here is a forums group for the X-GameStation:· http://www.xgamestation.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi·.· There is a world of information regarding the product on the forums.



    Dave


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    Dave Andreae

    Tech Support
    dandreae@parallax.com
    www.parallax.com

    ·
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