Looks like it's been a couple of years since I posted anything here.
Just a few updates on the status of projects I've been working on.
1. MC-10 Chess
The program seems to play 1 side of the board. I need to track down why it can't fully play itself. This might be a big vs little endian issue. The input routine is pretty bare bones at this point, and I'll need to add support for backspace, and hitting return before accepting a move.
Timed play, undo, etc... aren't supported at this point.
I'm not sure how challenging of a game it will play. The lookahead on the PC version can examine 10s of 1000s of moves due to available RAM and speed. The MC-10's limited RAM might confine that to 100s of moves. It should beat Microchess derivatives, but the Sargons, and Cyrus chess might beat it. Once I get everything working, I'd like change the lookahead to interative code rather than recursive. It would allow more efficient use of RAM.
2. MPAGD (Muli Platform Arcade Game Designer).
The MC-10 specific hardware code such as keyboard input needs to be written. There are still a couple routines in the game library that need finished. The compiler is done, and has been for ages, but it needs integrated into the GUI. I'd really like to integrate the peephole optimizer into the build process, but that will require convincing the author of MPAGD.
3. Optimized MC-10 ROM.
The new EPROM programmer just showed up, but I'll have to build a ROM adapter board since the MC-10 uses something uncommon.
I'll start building ROM images for testing on real hardware using optimizations that are known to work.
Once I've stuffed as much as I can into 8K, I'll release a rom image.
After that I'll work on 6303 timing fixes, but I won't be able to fully test that till I buy a new oscilliscope.
4. Hardware modded MC-10.
This is more of a personal project, but I might turn out something eventually.
I've desoldered the 6803, added a socket, and installed a 6303.
I had to purchase a new desoldering gun, heat/reflow gun, and soldering iron. Replacing everything I lost in the house fire is getting expensive.
If you upgrade the CPU, use a good vacuum desoldering gun. They aren't cheap, but work a lot better than braid, or a soldering iron + spring loaded solder sucker.
Then apply rosin to the bottom of the board, and vacuum a 2nd time. The rosin draws out more solder when it melts than without it.
When you remove the CPU, use a heat gun from the top of the board to melt any remaining solder, and slowly work your way from one end of the chip to the other. This is the only way I've found to avoid lifting pads on the board.
I soldered in a socket, and plugged in the 63B03RP replacement. I used around pin/hole type socket, but I suggest using a standard socket with double sided wipers as they are a whole lot easer to insert chips into. The 6303 is in there but it fought me.
