What's New
May 21, 2010
I) Added the Owner's Manual for the Bally Home Library Computer.
This is the original manual that came with the Bally Home Library
Computer (the original name of the console before it was called the
Astrocade or even the Bally Arcade).
Bally Home Library Computer Owner's Manual
April 7, 2010
I) Updated five descriptions of "Bob Fabris Audio Recordings:"
1) 12-17_Fenton
2) Larkin_1-28_(part_1)
3) Larkin_1-28_(part_2)
4) Larkin_1-28_(reverse)
5) TEL. CONVERSATIONS Copy 11-28
Updates of Bob Fabris Audio Recordings
II) Added fourteen audio recordings that Bob Fabris, the publisher of the
Astrocade newsletter Arcadian, had with various people in the Bally /
Astrocade community.
1) 7 Call JF
---------
(Time - 12:02 / Size - 13.1MB)
After a date declaration of June 26 (1980), Bob Fabris calls Jeff
Frederiksen. Bob has been talking to Jay Fenton about his develop-
ment of an extended BASIC cartridge, and Bob's put him in touch
with third parties developing RAM expansions. Bob asks if Bally
will be selling the extended BASIC cartridge directly, and Jeff
says the plan is to sell it as a limited edition at probably
about$75. [This is mentioned in Arcadian volume 2, issue 9,
page 78.] They discuss advertising for it in the Sourcebook. It
will search for any contiguous RAM block above the screen RAM.
They're planning on making a commercial ZGRASS system package at a
cost of about $3000 (with about $700 of that for the monitor).
It's not being aimed at amateurs. They're planning to demonstrate
it at SIGGRAPH next month. The recording ends suddenly.
2) 7 Call JF (Reverse) Part 1
--------------------------
(Time - 2:39 / Size - 2.88MB)
Bob Fabris and Jeff Frederiksen talk about the ZGRASS expansion--
possibly the same conversation as on the front side of the tape.
Jeff mentions a module for voice synthesis and light pen for
graphics editing. It can either stand alone or act as a slave to
another computer system. He says there will be applications for
it when it's released.
3) 7 Call JF (Reverse) Part 2
--------------------------
(Time - 9:32 / Size - 10.5MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Jeff Frederiksen. Bob asks about cartridge
parts, since some people want to manufacture their own Videocades.
Jeff says they're custom made, but they'd be willing to sell
EEPROM carts to people. They discuss the sound registers, and Bob
compliments Brett Bilbrey's sound work. Bob mentions work on a
keyboard addition, and asks about ASCII codes for commands. There
are rumors about the system being taken over from Bally by another
company, but Jeff doesn't have any news about it. Jeff demonstrates
Vortrax speech synthesis. Jeff's found a modification to the audio
interface that makes it more reliable. [This is detailed in
Arcadian volume 2, issue 8, page 71.]
4) Bally Larkin Conversation
-------------------------
(Time - 5:26 / Size - 6.31MB)
Ed Larkin reads an advertisement for the Viper System 1 to
Bob Fabris.
5) Leske Freeman 1-8 Part 1
------------------------
(Time - 8:18 / Size - 10.0MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Larry Leske, who's been working on a programm-
able keyboard kit. [Arcadian volume 1, issue 8, page 55] It seems
likely that Fidelity Electronics will take over the system, and
they plan on possibly reviving the ZGRASS add-under in about six
months. Larry has great respect for the engineering at Fidelity,
and thinks it's likely they'll get out a quality product fairly
quickly. Given this, Larry doesn't really want to compete with
them, so the project is put on hold. [Arcadian volume 2,
issue 3, page 19]
6) Leske Freeman 1-8 Part 2
------------------------
(Time - 14:29 / Size - 15.3MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Bob Freeman, who's been working on an S-100
adapter for the sysetem [Arcadian volume 2, issue 2, page 11].
With Larry Leske losing interest on programmable keyboard work,
Fabris is now particularly interested in this. Freeman is also
thinking about things like a modem. But he's not moving at a
fast pace unless there's enough interest to make it profitable.
Fabris is planning on surveying the Arcadian readers on what
they want. [Arcadian volume 2, issue 3, page 19]. Freeman has also
programmed a system monitor ROM (it COULD be the "ADS System
Monitor," but this is only conjecture), to be used for debugging
assembler programs. Freeman wonders if Fidelity Electronics would
consider speeding up the system's Z80, but Fabris says they're
trying to cut costs on the board instead. They might consider
a retrofit kit, though.
7) Meeks 2-1-83 Part 1
-------------------
(Time - 18:43 / Size - 20.2MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Tom Meeks. Tom discusses an attempt to release
the Astrocade in Europe. They've gotten a sample to a company
called ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph), and everyone
is optimistic. Ray George is really pushing to get ZGRASS out this
year. Bally itself is also pushing both these ventures, and may
even provide financial backing for ZGRASS. No new consoles are
being manufactured at the moment, though there is still old stock
to sell. Astrocade is in some sort of dispute with Nitron. Bob
says there's been a good response to the ad in Electronic Games.
Arcadian subscribers are stable at about 2,000. Tom doesn't think
the BASIC manual did a good job of getting people into programming.
Tom's going to get Bob mailing addresses from warranty cards.
Astrocade's getting ready to go do court over debts. Creditors are
going after money Astrocade's gotten from Montgomery Ward--money
they need to keep the company running. Tom's trying to arrange to
leave Astrocade with a severance package, but wants to keep
consulting with them on ZGRASS. Tom's been doing lots of ZGRASS
programming, developing educational children's programs. He gives
some details about ZGRASS programming, strengths, and limitations.
8) Meeks 2-1-83 Part 2
-------------------
(Time - 6:16 / Size - 7.26MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Ed Larkin of Alternative Engineering. They
discuss the Electronic Games "underground" article. He's
manufacturing Pac-Man carts for Bob. They joke about the secrecy
around it. He's developing a communication board. The company
doesn't have a lot of capital to work with.
9) Meeks 2-1-83 (Reverse) Part 1
-----------------------------
(Time - 7:49 / Size - 8.24MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Tom Meeks. Astrocade has entered Chapter 11
bankruptcy. Nitron's stock has suspended trading for two days, and
Tom expects Nitron to fail. In Tom's view, this situation is
partly Nitron's fault, because he believes they were trying to
take control of Astrocade from the day they started building the
systems. He places more blame on Astrocade, however. Tom hopes ITT
(International Telephone and Telegraph) can rejuvenate the system
by building it cheaper than they can. Tom thinks the bankruptcy
will help them get a little sympathy and curiosity at the upcoming
CES show. They haven't been able to implement anything lately,
even though they're getting lots of good suggestions, particularly
from Dick Houser. Astrocade has at least been getting more free
publicity lately.
10) Meeks 2-1-83 (Reverse) Part 2
-----------------------------
(Time - 4:49 / Size - 5.71MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Bob (Ogden?). With Astrocade in the midst of
bankruptcy, Bob (Ogden?) is looking into releasing future games
(International Telephone and Telegraph), though. Bob Fabris wants
to put together an independent advisory panel to guide software
development. One interested party is Alternative Engineering.
With Astrocade not making games at the moment, Bob (Ogden?) isn't
particularly interested in this for now.
11) Meeks 2-1-83 (Reverse) Part 3
-----------------------------
(Time - 18:06 / Size - 20.8MB)
Bob Fabris talks to Ed Larkin about three weeks after the
Astrocade bankruptcy. According to Ed, Bob Ogden expects to have
a deal with ITT (International Telephone and Telegraph) within
the next couple of weeks. At this point, Ed will start working
for Bob Ogden to help address the lack of software for the
system. Ed sees ITT as a much more professional company than
Astrocade, and hopes they take over the whole business. Bob
Fabris suggests he consider producing ZGRASS for them rather
than for Astrocade, and gives out contact information for
Nicholas Gibbs at ITT Consumer Products (UK) Limited. Ed talked
to Tom Meeks just before the bankruptcy for a little help with
ZGRASS, but couldn't get much support. This may have been related
to the stress of the impending bankruptcy and Tom looking for a
different job. ITT is hoping to make the hardware compatible with
both the US and Europe, and to re-release it in the US at a lower
cost. Right now, Astrocade could only bring in operating capital
with new products. They haven't paid John Perkins for work on a
game, so he's planning to release the game through another
company. Bob talks to Ed about manufacturing Pac-Man carts, and
wants to change the name to Munch Kid. They're going to make 100
carts, with Bob putting up about $1,000 upfront and $1,000 on
delivery. The recording ends suddenly.
12) Nelson 2-1-80
-------------
(Time - 4:23 / Size - 4.74MB)
Bob Fabris calls Ron Nelson of Fidelity Electronics. Bob asks
about recent developments, and Ron says that the current
situation is that Bally is pushing to quickly divest from the
system, but Fidelity wants to slow down and look over the
contract closely. Bob also mentions the development of a hobbyist
memory addition and keyboard. It's planned to be sold as a kit,
in part to avoid the need for FCC approval.
13) Sales Pitch for New BASIC Bally ARCADE +
----------------------------------------
(Time - 38:54 / Size - 49.8MB)
This seems to be a presentation for the Astrocade marketing team.
The first speaker is Jeff Frederiksen. He thinks there's a big
demand for fantasy games, and there are no good computer fantasy
games on the market. So, they're about to release Wizard of Wor.
He says Astrocade is better than Bally at marketing. A next
generation system, with new custom chips, is already being
designed. He compares Astrocade technology to Atari. The next
generation system will be able to display 16 colors out of a
palette of over two million. He expects it to be way ahead of the
competition. He says Bally BASIC was made to show that the system
was a real computer. One reason BASIC wasn't more successful is
that it required too much investment--a system, cart, and
interface. So now, they've got a new BASIC with a faster,
built-in interface. And the cart is going to be packed in with
the system. Ray George interjects that it will now be called the
Bally Arcade Plus. Jeff demonstrates loading a BASIC program. He
says Bally BASIC has the advantage of simple graphics programming.
The tape ends with a question and answer session. Jeff doesn't
think voice synthesis is worth pursuing this generation. The
recording ends when they take a coffee break.
14) Sales Pitch for New BASIC Bally ARCADE + (Reverse)
--------------------------------------------------
(Time - 46:36 / Size - 62.5MB)
The meeting continues with Jeff talking about the add-under. It
will include a modem, parallel port, and floppy drive. He
discusses the memory in the add-under. Bally is investing money
in the add-under, even though it will be released by Astrovision.
He talks about the size of the games industry. Next, Tom DeFanti
shows a high-resolution ZGRASS demo by Jane Veeder. Tom says it's
important that the add-under will put out a video signal that can
be recorded and televised. Jane herself begins speaking. She
shows the Montana demo. Tom starts speaking again. He wants to
make the machine accessible such that, for example, an accountant
could write an accountant program. Parents could even write
programs instead of bed-time stories. Someone asks how he can
convince someone that the machine with the add-under will bring
money into their organization. Tom responds that by including a
high level language, third parties will be able to create software
much more easily. Jeff adds that graphic creation is very easy.
Tom says that ultimately, it will be sold by showing it rather
than talking about it. Initially, he expects the add-under to
sell to people who want to move up from Bally BASIC. Then, as
people see other people using it, and as more software becomes
available, it will become more popular. Jeff and Tom prepare
another demonstration. Jeff explains that Tom has been working
for months to improve ZGRASS, so it will be even better than what
they're demonstrating. Tom and Jeff discuss some of the
advantages of ZGRASS over BASIC. Showing the color capabilities
leads to a brief discussion from the audience about Color BASIC.
The recording ends while they're demonstrating ZGRASS commands.
New Bob Fabris Audio Recordings
III) Added a four-page article from the September 1983 issue of JOYSTIK
called "Astrocade's Underground" by Danny Goodman. This article is
about how Astrocade users get along without support from Astrocade,
Inc. In 1983, this was quite a lot of exposure for this console. The
article begins:
"You can't really call the group an "underground," because it operates
openly, almost vocally. But, few of the millions of Atari, Mattel,
Odyssey and Coleco players are aware that an entire cottage industry has
grown around the highly rated, but rarely seen, Astrocade Professional
Arcade system. To gain appreciation for the third-party support out
there, consider that almost 400 individual programs are currently
available for the Astrocade- more than for the Atari 2600 and Mattel
Intellivision combined."
Astrocade's Underground
March 26, 2010
I) Added "Star Battle" Source Code
This source code is for the Bally cartridge. This cartridge has been
disassembled by, possibly, Tom Woods, in 1979. As it was included in
the Bob Fabris collection without any notes to who actually did it, it
is impossible to know for sure. The source code, including cross
reference and opcode listings, is 30 pages.
Star Battle Source Code Listing
March 22, 2010
I) Added Richard Degler's source code update of "Fawn Dungeon" by
Barry McCleave. The following changes have been made:
1) Replaced ORGs with Labels.
2) Added more HVGLIB.H information.
3) Replaced all RST $38s with more comments.
4) Added pattern comments for GunFighter.
5) Mixed case comments are new, a LOT of them come straight
from the BIOS.
6) Changed remaining decimal to 2- or 4-digit hex for readability.
"Fawn Dungeon" Source Code
March 20, 2010
I) Added updated version of Richard Degler's DZ80 Dissassembler Script.
DZ80 Dissassembler Script
II) Added Barry McCleave's "Fawn Dungeon" source code in ready-to-
assemble format.
This is an incomplete machine language game. The player in this
D&D-type game can wander around a maze, but there are no monsters. This
is an interesting piece of what might have become something interesting.
As it stands, it is little more than a programming exercise.
This source code assembles EXACTLY as the finished binary version.
"Fawn Dungeon" Source Code
III) Added "Z80 Source Code Tips" by Richard Degler.
A few tips on creating easy-to-read source code.
"Z80 Source-Code Tips"
March 7, 2010
I) Added two screenshots of BalCheck.
BalCheck Screenshots
II) Moved the "Mark S. Keller BASIC Collection" to the Mark Keller Section.
Mark S. Keller BASIC Collection
III) Moved Scott Waldinger's "Robot War" to the Scott Waldinger Section.
Robot War
March 6, 2010
I) Reorganized the "Machine Language Homebrew Software" area. There are
some additional comments as well as dates.
Machine Language Homebrew Software
II) Added "Fun with Vectors - No Ghosts Allowed" By Richard Degler.
"This is another unfinished project [from June of 2009]. This is "Fun
with Vectors - Ziggy" with an overly large "No Ghosts Allowed" from
Ghostbusters image instead. I wanted to write a display routine that
could draw it without flickering but it might be beyond the Bally's
ability."
Fun with Vectors - No Ghosts Allowed
III) Added "Fun with Vectors - Slimer" By Richard Degler
This is the last thing that Richard did with "Fun with Vectors." This
has a stationary "No Ghosts Allowed" and the updated Slimer. "I was
going to see how many Slimers it could draw - think another one at most!
The program still has the mangled Gaz-Giz when moving left - never did
put in a FLOP like Lance's X-mas display had. Pull the trigger to slow
Slimer way down (but not always stop!)."
Fun with Vectors - Slimer
IV) Added modified version of BalCheck.
This ROM were modified by Richard Degler so that it would work in MESS
without the actual BalCheck hardware device usually required.
BalCheck (Modified) ROM Image
BalCheck Documentation Changes and Quick How-To
BalCheck Documentation
March 5, 2010
I) Added an older version of the MESSD emulator for Windows.
Although this version is quite outdated, it sort of supports extra
memory (I understand that this was a bug). You can use the cartridges
that require extra RAM (like Vipersoft BASIC and Blue Ram BASIC) with
this version of the emulator. Once you have the On-Board ROM and
cartridge in the correct directories, then you start it from the command
line like this:
MESSD ASTROCDE -CART Program
MESS with Extra RAM Support
II) Reorganized the "Astrocade Machine Language Tools" area.
"Astrocade Machine Language Tools" area
III) Added the most up-to-date version of the DZ80 disassembler (version 2.0)
along with some related files that it requires.
DZ80 Disassembler (Version 2.0)
Lua Programming Language (for use with DZ80 2.0)
IV) Added a new area on hardware emulation of the Astrocade using FPGA.
The Astrocade can be emulated in hardware because of Mike J's hard work
recreating the console (in low-res AND hi-res mode) for an FPGA chip
in the hardware descriptor language VHDL. This version will run on a
Xilinx Spartan3E starter kit board, but it may be able to be ported to
other boards.
This is a pretty complicated subject that most people won't be able to
try because you need special hardware. However, for an overview, here
is some information from Mike J's FAQ:
"Very simply, VHDL is a high level language which is used to design and
simulate hardware, by which I mean everything from a modern complex CPU
to a digital watch. Software tools take the VHDL source code, and hope-
fully convert it into real physical logic gates. This can then (at vast
expense) be turned into a piece of silicon and sold to people. I should
point out that only a subset of the language can actually be turned into
gates, as some constructs are only useful for simulating designs."
"VHDL stands for VHSIC Hardware Description Language, where VHSIC is an
acronym for Very High Speed Integrated Circuit. However, the name is
more frightening than the language, which resulted from a US Government
sponsored effort to improve the way integrated circuit designs were
exchanged between companies. The IEEE adopted VHDL as a standard
in 1987 (1076-1987)."
Astrocade Hardware Emulation Using FPGA
March 4, 2010
I) Added the infamous undumped On-Board '3164' 8K Bally ROM. This now
makes for the third different archived ROM.
This ROM was dumped by Paul Thacker from his very early Bally Arcade
console. He comments about his system, "The system itself definitely
seems early as well. In addition to the different dust cover label, the
red reset button, and the silver eject button, the casing is missing
most of the explanatory text such as On/Off and 3/4 for the channel."
Richard Degler took a look at this ROM and has some comments, "Differ-
ences from the "3159" BIOS are the SYSTEM Routine Jump Table (since the
routines are shifted), and the location of text strings and the Font
(which is why to use the Dope Vector). The date starts at 3604 and is
the leftover "977" of WHITE BIOS. After that the built-in games have few
changes, except Gunfight plays to 9999 (like the 1978 version) and has
one color changed. CHECKSUMs #1 and 2, as well as FUDGE4 are also dif-
ferent, so the un-modified BAL-CHECK should work fine on this machine
as it is."
On-Board '3164' 8K Bally ROM
II) Added an updated HVGLIB (Home Video Game Library) Header file. This
was created for use the the Bally ROM, but if you're going to be
creating machine language programs with the Nutting Manual, then you
need this Astrocade equate file. This is version 3.0, with updates
from Richard Degler.
HVGLIB.H, with updates by Richard Degler
III) Added Source for all THREE Versions of Bally ROM.
The ROM Source Code includes the source for the 4K of System ROM, and
the other 4K contain Checkmate, Calculator, Gun Fight and Scribble.
This new version, created and updated by Richard Degler, is the updated
assembly source code for ALL THREE versions of the Bally System BIOS.
It can be used to recreate any version of the on-board ROMs. By chang-
ing the EQUate 0,1s in the first block marked with "###"'s you can
conditionally generate _either_ the WHITE.bin or ASTRO.bin (a.k.a
BIOS3159.BIN or "GAME OVER" ROM) from the same source code.
Conditional Source-Code for the Bally On-Board ROM
IV) Updated the eight Beatles music ROMs with renaming from Richard Degler
and fixed a couple of over-dumps.
Beatles ROM Zip Archive, Updated
V) Added "orphaned" document, "Differences Between Bally and AstroBASIC."
This document describes the improvements and differences between the
original version of Bally BASIC and AstroBasic (the version with the
build-in 2000 BAUD interface). This document will be useful when
converting files from one language to another- especially when reading
machine language material in the Arcadian (which primarily is directed
toward the older version of BASIC). It also finally answers that
question: "what's different between the two BASIC carts?"
Differences Between Bally and AstroBASIC
VI) Added three tools "300 BAUD Tools." Thanks to Ronaldo Goulart for
putting this great collection of archiving tools together!
This .zip file contains 3 public domain tools for dealing with Bally
Basic / ViperSoft Basic programs:
1) KCS
KCS allows the user to create binary dumps from wave recordings, and
to convert such dumps back to wave. It is a DOS application, pro-
grammed in a custom Forth dialect, DX-Forth, but it's author kindly
provided me with a version adapted for a Windows Forth interpreter,
so both a DOS and a Windows version are available. The Windows
executable is much bigger because of the additional runtimes embedded
in the executable.
For converting .prg binary dumps back to wave using KCS, a known-
working, though not optimal set of command line switches is " -M -L5
-P50". Refer to KCS documentation for further details.
2) prg2txt:
Prg2txt is a Windows utility for converting binary dumps of Bally
Basic / ViperSoft Basic into Unicode text files. By default, it
produces an output similar to the regular original listings, and
through an optional command line switch, it generates the output file
using an alternative syntax, intended to allow the listing to be
edited through a regular plain text editor. Such listings can be
converted back to binary using txt2prg.
3) txt2prg:
Txt2prg generates binary files from text listings, which can after
be converted to wave for loading into an original Astrocade. In case
you are going to edit your own listings or the ones generated using
prg2txt, be sure to use the special required syntax. For more infor-
mation on this, refer to txt2prg.txt
300 BAUD Tools
VII) Added a 2000-BAUD tape archiving tool called wBallyBin (V2).
In May of 2009, Paul Thacker wrote: "I have a slightly newer version of
Ballybin for Windows. I'm not sure when Bob Colbert will have a bigger
update to the program, but we might as well offer the best version
available." This slightly updated version is called "wBallyBin (V2)."
wBallyBin (V2)
VIII) Added a dissassembler script for DZ80. Created by Richard Degler.
A Script for use with the DZ80 Disassembler, version 2.0. This makes it
so that there is no more adjusting garbage code following RST $38
syssuk'ed routines! You can read Richard's full comments here.
Dissassembler Script for DZ80
March 3, 2010
I) Organized the "Astrocade Machine Language Source Code" Section.
Machine Language Source code for various programs, mostly cartridges
are available here. Some of the material is scanned, but a good
portion of it has been retyped and is ready to be assembled. Also,
some of it has been disassembled and commented. If you're a machine
language programmer, then there is a WEALTH of material here:
1) 300 to 2000 BAUD Loader Utility Program
2) AstroBASIC
3) Astrocade On-Board ROM
4) Balcheck
5) Bally BASIC
6) Bally Demo Cartridge
7) Color BASIC
8) Dog Patch
9) Football
10) Fawn Dungeon
12) Goldfish Demo
13) Machine Language Manager
14) RAM Test (Generic Z-80 Source Code)
15) Songs
16) Stweek (Sound Tweeker)
17) Treasure Cove
18) Video Storybook
19) Wizard of Wor (Arcade Game)
Astrocade Machine Language Source Code" Section
II) Added a preliminary version of source code for "Treasure Cove" that is
ready to assemble.
This version assembles fine using Zmac, but it does NOT run. When run
under MESS .135, it "locks up." When the debugger is used, the game is
getting "stuck" in the WRITP routine in the system ROM. The problem has
been traced back to when the cartridge calls the WRITP routine from the
cartridge area at $27DE. The game never returns from this call.
Richard Degler suggests, "Sounds like the Stack area is getting
clobbered by theWRITPattern - there is no bounds checking so if it draws
too far down it just can't find its way back."
"Treasure Cove" (Source for Preliminary Version)
III) Added Source Listing updates for:
1) Text (Ready to Assemble) Updates by Richard Degler:
1. Astro BASIC
2. Bally BASIC
3. Color BASIC
2) Bally BASIC (Scanned, PDF format)
Astrocade Machine Language Source Code" Section
March 1, 2010
I) Added "Astrocade: Product Description."
Describes the Arcade Video Game (aka Bally Astrocade), BASIC Programming
Cartridge, and Z-GRASS 100 Computer Keyboard. See how the ZGRASS looks
compared to released computer systems of the same period.
Astrocade: Product Description
II) Added two Bally / Astrocade Patents:
Both patents have the same abstract:
"A home computer system provides a video processor for use with a
television receiver. The video processor can selectively perform a
variety of modifications to pixel data under the direction of the CPU
of the computer system before the pixel data is stored in random access
memory to effectively increase the speed or data handling power
of the system."
1) Bally Arcade Patent - 4301503 (Nov. 17 1981)
Home Computer and Game Apparatus (Filed May 30, 1978).
36 Claims, 167 Drawing Figures.
(237 pages, 10.7MB)
2) Bally Arcade Patent - 4475172 (Oct 2 1984)
Home Computer and Game Apparatus (Filed June 18, 1981).
24 Claims, 168 Drawing Figures.
(124 pages, 6.79MB)
Bally Arcade Patent - 4301503 (Nov. 17 1981)
Bally Arcade Patent - 4475172 (Oct 2 1984)
III) Added AstroVision, Inc. Business Card.
A business card from Astrovision. This card belonged to Rick
Claghorn, Computer Specialist.
AstroVision, Inc. Business Card
IV) Moved George Hale Business Card.
George Hale Business Card
February 26, 2010
I) Added two pictures of the inside of the Lil' White Ram expansion unit.
Lil' White Ram. PCB - Inside View
Lil' White Ram. PCB - Bottom View
II) Created a Bally / Astrocade Multicarts Area. Currently it holds:
1) Beatles Music from Richard Degler by Mike White. Created in 2007.
2) Multicart by CPUWIZ. Released in 2004.
3) Multicart by RetroKidz. Released in 2006.
4) Multicart by Ward Shrake. Released in 2002.
Bally / Astrocade Multicarts Area
III) I have added a picture of the multicart by GaMBITS.
UltiMulti Cartridge by GaMBITS
IV) Created a Bally / Astrocade Multicarts Documentation Area. It holds
documentation for:
1) Multicart by CPUWIZ. Released in 2004.
2) Multicart by GaMBITS. Released in 2008.
3) Multicart by RetroKidz. Released in 2006.
4) Multicart by Ward Shrake. Released in 2002.
Multicart Documentation Area
V) Added four documents for the multicart called "UltiMulti
Cartridge" 1.0 by GaMBITS.
1) CD (JPG)
The Manual and Program DIP Switch Settings are contained
on this CD
2) DIP Switch Settings (PDF)
3) Instructions (PDF)
Here is what is in the documentation:
1. Listing of Programs
2. How to Use Multi-Load Games
3. Switch Settings Required for
Different BASICs
4. Blue Ram Super-Extended
BASIC (1.0 and 1.1) Instructions
5. Game / Program Instructions
1. Arcade Golf 1.5 - Ken Lill
2. Dragon's Castle
3. Lil' White Utility
4. Pro Golf - Henry Sopko
5. Snake Snack - By Ken Lill
6. Spring Thing Pt. 1 - By Ken Lill
7. Star Cruiser - Ken Lill
8. Whatzit? - By Ken Lill
4) Leaflet: "Thank You For Your Order"
UltiMulti Cartridge Documentation Area
VI) Added five documents for the Lil' White Ram:
1) Installation Guide CD
Contains the instructions on how to use and install the Lil' White
Ram hardware.
2) Instructions and Warranty
Eight pages of instructions (including pictures and installation
procedure) along with warranty information for the Lil' White 32K
RAM expansion.
3) Leaflet
"Thank You for Your Order" leaflet
4) RAM Test Program, By Ken Lill
This will check all addresses from $5000 to $7FFF.
5) Schematic
Complete schematic for the Lil' White Ram.
Lil' White Ram Documentation Area
VII) Added Astrocade Memory Expander Schematic by Mike White.
This is version two of an original schematic, designed by Mike White,
for an inexpensive memory upgrade project proposal by Mike White.
Version two, this version, is from November 2004. Version one was from
March 2002; it had errors and has been deleted. Eventually, in 2008, Ken
Lill and Mike White created the Lil' White Ram based on a modified
version of this schematic.
Astrocade Memory Expander Schematic
VIII) Added Bally Service Manual
This is the official "PA-1 Bally Service Manual" that contains such
useful information as System operation, Disassembly, Motherboard Parts
List, Layout, Schematic and more. If your Bally Astrocade is broken and
you have some electronics knowledge, then this should be just what you
are looking for.
Bally Service Manual
IX) Added "SeaWolf II Parts Catalog with Schematics"
The arcade game Seawolf II is, basically, a hi-res Astrocade. Here are
the schematics and the parts catalog (which also contains schematics).
These may prove useful if you try to upgrade your Astrocade to hi-res
(no small task!). Also, if you want to try hi-res, then using this
arcade board is supposed to be the best way to go.
SeaWolf II Parts Catalog with Schematics
SeaWolf II Schematics
X) Added "Jameco JE 610 ASCII Keyboard Datasheet"
These keyboards, from 1979, were often hacked with the 300-BAUD interface
to create a keyboard that could be used with Bally BASIC. From the
datasheet: "The JE610 ASCII Encoded keyboard kit can be interfaced into
most any computer system. The keyboard assembly requires 5V @ 150mA
and -12V @ 10mA for operation. Interface wiring can be made with either
a 16-pin DIP jumper plug or an 18-pin (.156 spacing) edge connector."
Jameco JE 610 ASCII Keyboard Datasheet
XI) Added Lightpen Plans, by Leroy Flamm
These are plans, including schematics, on how to build a light pen for
the Bally / Astrocade. The documentation refers to a tape with a
program for this hardware, but that program has been lost or has yet
to be archived.
Light Pen Plans
XII) Added Four Astrocade Add-Under Blueprints by Astro-Vision.
These are four Add-Under blueprints from April 1982. These GIF files
are large (24" x 36"). If you have trouble viewing them, then save them
locally to your hard drive and don't view them on the Internet.
Blueprints in Misc. Hardware Area
Blueprints in High-Res TIFF Format (Direct Link)
XIII) RGB Interface - Midway
I'm not exactly sure what Arcade machine this is for. This might be
useful for use with the Astrocade... or maybe not.
RGB Interface
February 25, 2010
I) Added the printout of the Bally BASIC program that is contained in the
Bally BASIC Demo cartridge.
BASIC Program from Bally BASIC Demo Cartridge
II) Added Astrocade, Inc. Bankruptcy Paperwork
This is the bankruptcy paperwork that Astrocade, Inc. filed in
February 1984.
Astrocade, Inc. Bankruptcy Paperwork
III) Created a new section called "Bally Hardware." It holds two items:
1. AstroBASIC Audio Tape Interface Schematic - Created by Richard Degler
Schematic for AstroBASIC Audio Tape Interface. Both a PDF and
GIF Version are available.
2. Bally BASIC Tape Interface - By Bally
This two-page instruction sheet is for the Bally BASIC 300-BAUD
audio tape interface. The main topics are:
1) Audio Cassette Playback
2) Volume Control Adjustment
3) Audio Cassette Record
4) Record / Playback Test
5) BASIC Commands
Bally Hardware Section
IV) Created new section called "Miscellaneous Hardware Documents." It
holds three items:
1. 64K RAM Board Manual - By R&L Enterprises
The documentation, including schematics, for this monster Astrocade
RAM board. There is no actual Table of Contents, but here is what
is included in the manual:
1) General Hardware Features
2) General Hardware Features NOT Included
3) Hardware Options
4) Addressing Ranges
5) PCB Layout
6) Power Supplies
7) Write Protect Installation
8) Routines for Accessing Upper Address Ranges With BASIC
9) Language Memory Locations
10) Useful Language Location Numbers
11) Installation
12) Precautions and Standard Operating Procedures
13) Circuit Description
14) Circuit Operation (See Schematic)
15) 50-Pin Bus Signals
16) Magic Memory
17) Intergalactic Politics (Memory Management)
18) 64K RAM Board Schematic
2. The Computer Ear Manual - By ARD (Anderson Research and Design)
A sixteen-page manual that explains how to use the Computer Ear
voice recognition system. An additional four pages include four
BASIC type-in programs:
1) Digital Oscilloscope
2) Flash Math
3) Speech 1.8
4) Speech 4.2
3. R&L 64K RAM Board and Printer Interface - R&L Enterprises
Two emails about new hardware that would have been available in
the 3'rd quarter of 1996 (it never shipped). It was an Add-On
Board with Configurable RAM, EPROM or EEPROM, PS/2 Keyboard
Interface, Centronics Printer Interface, and two serial ports.
"Miscellaneous Hardware Documents" Section
February 24, 2010
I) Moved "Astrovision Arcade is Packaged and Expanded" article.
This article is from the "CES Trade News Daily," January 10, 1981 issue.
Astrocade has repackaged the line, added Bally BASIC and plans ten
new cartridges.
Astrovision Arcade is Packaged and Expanded Article
II) Moved "Bally Professional Arcade from Astrovision, at CES booth 2501"
Ad from a CES "Show Daily." "Arcade $299, ZGRASS-32 Keyboard $599,
Complete System $898. 32K Computer. With the plug-in ZGRASS-32
keyboard, the Arcade becomes the easiest computer to use and the most
powerful system available for creating graphics on the TV screen."
Bally Professional Arcade from Astrovision, at CES booth 2501
III) Moved the "The Fantastic Combinations of John Conway's New Solitaire Game
'Life'" articles by Martin Gardner.
These appeared in "Scientific American," October 1970 and February 1971.
These are the two articles that got the computer program "Life" so
popular in the early to mid-seventies. The first article is from the
column "Mathematical Games." The next article is a follow-up to the
first article. There are at least two versions of this "game" available
for the Astrocade. One is a tape program by Jay Fenton that runs in
BASIC (but is written in machine language) and the other is a cartridge
by Richard Degler.
The Fantastic [...] Game "Life"
The Fantastic [...] Game "Life" (Follow-Up)
IV) Moved "The Mass Impact of Videogame Technology" by Tom Defanti. This
article is from the 1984 journal "Advances in Computers, Vol. 23."
This is a fifty-page "book" from 1984 about how videogames have affected
technology. It's written by Thomas A. Defanti, the man behind the
ZGrass language and the UV-R computer. Here is an abbreviated
"Table of Contents:"
1. Introduction
2. History of Videogames and Related Developments
3. Coin-Op Game Manufacturers
4. Types of Games
5. Market Considerations
6. Videogame Hardware
7. Videogame Hardware
8. Legal Issues
9. Future Developments
10. Conclusions
11. References
An alternate version is also available. This alternate version has two
pages scanned per page. If you plan to print the "book" out, then this
is probably the best version to download.
The Mass Impact of Videogame Technology
The Mass Impact of Videogame Technology (Alternate Version)
February 23, 2010
I) Moved "The Game Player" review compilation.
"The Game Player" was a review column from the "Arcadian" newsletter
that ran for twenty-one columns. It reviewed a total of thirty-nine
games, only five of which were cartridges. The rest were all games that
were sold on tape. The reviewed games are:
Tape Reviews (34)
-----------------
1) Adventure Astrogames
2) Astro Analyst Educational Software Systems
3) Astro Terror The Tiny Arcade
4) Candy Man L&M Software
5) Castle of Horror Wavemakers
6) Caterpillar H.A.R.D. Software
7) Collision Course Wavemakers
8) Defense Professional Astrogames
9) Dungeons of Dracula Wavemakers
10) Exitor's Revenge L&M Software
11) Flying Ace Wavemakers
12) Galactic Hitchhiker H.A.R.D. Software
13) Gamma Wars Tiny Arcade
14) Gate Escape, The Wavemakers
15) L.T. Wavemakers
16) Lost in Space Edge Software
17) Memomax Educational Software Systems
18) Metro Attack Astrogames
19) Micro Pac H.A.R.D. Software
20) Morse Code Trainer Educational Softwear Designs
21) Music George Moses Co.
22) Nam-Cap New Image
23) Nautilus L&M Software
24) Night Bombers Astrogames
25) Omega Valley The Tiny Arcade
26) Paper Chase, The H.A.R.D. Software
27) Peter Piper Astrogames
28) Road Toad Esoterica, Ltd.
29) Secret of Pellucitar L&M Software
30) Super Pac Astrogames
31) Super Slope Esoterica, Inc.
32) Tic Tac Tollah H.A.R.D. Software
33) Vindicator The Tiny Arcade
34) Wah's Revenge Astrogames
Cartridge Reviews (5)
---------------------
1) Cosmic Raiders Astrocade
2) Ms. Candyman L&M Software
3) Sea Devil Bit Fiddlers
4) Sneaky Snake New Image
5) Solar Conqueror Astrocade
The Game Players" Review Compilation
February 22, 2010
I) This "Miscellaneous Documentation" area is in flux. The files that were
in this area will be moving to other places on the Bally Alley website
that make more sense. Those files that are still miscellaneous will be
moved back, but even then, the section will be broken down into different
miscellaneous areas. Check here for more updates as the files are added
back to the website.
II) Moved the warranty card for Big City Slick and The Great
American Jigsaw.
Big City Slick and The Great American Jigsaw Warranty Card
III) Moved the original (non-searchable) scan of the "Bally System Description."
Bally System Description
IV) Moved "Astrocade Programming Sheets."
These are programming sheets specifically for the Bally / Astrocade.
These different sheets contain: BASIC Programming Pad, Z-80 Programmer's Pad,
CX Value Screen Graph Paper, and Screen and Graphic Graph Paper.
Programming Sheet for Bally / Astrocade
V) Moved "Cartridge Making Instructions"
By Leroy Flamm. Explains how make a cartridge from a tape program.
Cartridge Making Instructions
VI) Moved "Bally On-Board ROM Subroutines"
Useful compilation of routines. This booklet explains what the On-Board
ROM routines built into the Bally / Astrocade ROM do. This manual is
used as a reference for BASIC programmers so that they can save a few
bytes when programming and also take advantage of the faster routines
that machine language offers. A Hex dump of the Bally 8K ROM is
also included.
Bally On-Board ROM Subroutines Booklet
VII) Moved "Crime Stopper Tips"
This article enables the programmer to use Hook Vectors to protect, as
best possible, any software written in AstroBASIC from being copied,
disassembled, etc.
Crime Stopper Tips
February 19, 2010
I) Added InfoWorld article from 1982 called "Chip Set Marks Difference
Between Arcade and Home Games" by John C. Dvorak.
This brief article talks about how using a chipset (in particular the
DNA chipset) in conjunction with a CPU makes the graphics smoother.
(PDF Version)
(Text Version)
II) Added an ad for "The Incredible Wizard."
According to an Astrocade press release from June 1982, this was the
world's first video game to be projected on a giant screen (25' x 35') at
a baseball game. Other than knowing that this is a White Sox game played
in Chicago in the Summer of 1982, I don't know who took this picture.
Thanks to Digital Press for allowing this picture to be on Bally Alley.
Giant Ad for The Incredible Wizard Displayed at Baseball Game
III) Added Bally Console and Programming Keyboard Close-Up.
The keyboard close-up shows the switches at 50% and also the Cursor
D-star below. Richard Degler, who made the close-up picture, comments:
"Those reset and on/off switches are too close to the top row of the
keyboard anyway! What's that circled-plus key on there with the shift-
for-BREAK for? And where's the BackSpace key?? I need that more often!!"
ZGRASS Keyboard Close-Up
IV) Added ZGrass-32 and Add-Under Animation
Created by Richard Degler. Here are Richard's comments: "[I] was struck
by the similarity of the Z-Grass 32 picture [to the programming key-
board]. Stretched it to the same width and added gray bars to match
the height, then animated between the two add-unders. Not quite the
same angle but definitely influenced by the first, as you can see
in the grayscale."
Added ZGrass-32 and Add-Under Animation
February 16, 2010
I) Added a new section called Bally / Astrocade Consoles and Accessories.
This section contains various Bally and Astrocade console versions as
well as accessories (like hand controls).
Bally / Astrocade Consoles and Accessories
II) Added seven pictures of the "Bally Home Library Computer." This is the
first version of the Bally console.
Bally Home Library Computer Section
III) Added seven pictures of the "Bally Professional Arcade." This is the
later version of the Bally console that looks very similar to the
Astrocade release of the system.
Bally Professional Arcade Section
IV) Added ten pictures of a Bally / Astrocade Hand Control.
The controllers that come with the Bally Arcade and the Astrocade are
NOT called joysticks, even though that is the name to which they are
often referred. The controllers, by both Astrocade and Bally, are
called "hand controls," or, less frequently, "control handles." The
"button" on the "hand control" is called the "trigger," and the paddle-
like device on the "hand control" is called the "knob."
Hand Control Area
V) Added four pictures of the Bally / Astrocade power supplies.
Since the Astrocade console was manufactured over several years, there
are several different power supplies available for it.
Bally / Astrocade Power Supply Area
February 15, 2010
I) Added four pictures of the Bally Control Handle box. These boxes
contained two controllers (labeled as "3" and "4") for the Bally Arcade.
Bally Box Area
February 13, 2010
I) Updated the Spoken Introduction Area:
1) Changed, slightly, the Secret of Pellucitar
transcribed introduction
2) Moved WaveMakers' The Gate Escape spoken introduction here
3) Moved WaveMakers' Invasion Force spoken introduction here
Spoken Introduction Area
Secret of Pellucitar Transcribed Introduction
February 12, 2010
I) Added Nine Bob Fabris Audio Recordings.
These are audio recordings (mostly telephone conversations) that Bob
Fabris, the publisher of the Astrocade newsletter Arcadian, had with
various people in the Bally / Astrocade community in the years during
the newsletter's publication (1978-1986).
Bob Fabris Audio Recordings
II) Added an alternate picture of the ZGrass-32. This version is from the
Digital Press CD (from 1997). I wish that I knew the original source of
this picture so that I could get a high-res version of the original copy.
ZGrass-32 Picture
III) Added "high-res" version of the Astrocade that is on the index.html
front page. This picture is from 1997... so it's high-quality from
THAT time.
Astrocade Picture from Bally Alley Index Page
IV) Added spoken introduction from L&M Software's game "Secret
of Pellucitar."
The quality of the archived tape is not great; the tape stretched over the years
causing the introduction to speed up and slow down. Since the introduction can
be a little hard to understand, Paul Thacker transcribed the introdocution
to the best of his ability.
Secret of Pellucitar Spoken Introduction
Secret of Pellucitar Transcribed Introduction
V) Added transcription of "Secret of Pellucitar" color ad for the tape
game by L&M Software.
What makes this ad interesting is that it adds information that is not
included in the instructions for the game.
Secret of Pellucitar Ad Transcription
VI) Added three more pages to the Astrocade programming sheets, bringing
the total number of pages up to nine.
Astrocade Programming Sheets
VI) Added "Datamax, Inc. UV-1 Letter." This document describes the features
and options of the UV-1 Colorgraphics Computer.
From the letter, "The UV-1 and ZGRASS - The UV-1 is a system for Audio
Visual application and Real Time graphics displays. It is the most
advanced graphic system with a user-oriented language. Ten years in
development, it is the microcomputer most suited to producing visual
on a television set."
Datamax UV-1 Letter
VII) Added Astrovision Business Card. This card belonged to Rick
Claghorn, Computer Specialist.
Astrovision Business Card.
February 11, 2010
I) Reorganized and moved the ZGrass / UV-1 pictures. These are no longer
in the documentation area. The pictures are now in the hardware picture
area (where they should always have been).
ZGrass / UV-1 Pictures
II) Added an animated GIF of the Bally Programming Keyboard (Color vs. B&W)
created by Richard Degler. Watch it as the color picture has the extra
switches above the keyboard airbrushed away. It's like magic.
Bally Keyboard (Color vs. B&W)
III) Added eleven game ideas by Brett Bilbrey to the Spectre Systems section:
1) Astro Warriors
2) Battlespace
3) Battle Cry
4) Beaver Dam
5) Duck Range
6) Game Ideas Letter
7) Mazeway
8) Space War
9) Star Wars
10) Tail Gunner
11) Unicorn
Game Ideas by Brett Bilbrey
IV) Added 8-pages of possible logos for Spectre Systems.
Possible Logos for Spectre Systems
V) Suggestions for Conan by Brett Bilbrey.
Brett saw Astrovision's Conan cartridge at a "show" and thought that
these ideas would have made for a better game.
Suggestions for Conan (Scanned PDF)
Suggestions for Conan (Transcribed)
VI) Added "Program Ideas and Other Projects" by Spectre Systems:
This is mostly a list of game ideas (even the names of the games give
you an idea of what the game would be about). There is also a short list
of other projects going on at the time (Peek and Poke, Esoterica,
Graphic Pads, Handle, and Atari Pads) as well as a several other
miscellaneous items.
"Program Ideas and Other Projects" by Spectre Systems
VII) Created an area to hold ads for Spectre Systems. Currently it holds two ads:
1) Graphic Design Pads
2) Spectre Custom Bally Handles
Spectre Systems Ad Area
February 10, 2010
I) Updated the Bally BASIC 300-Baud Tape Interface Area. Also, finally,
added some quality pictures of the interface.
Bally BASIC 300-Baud Tape Interface Area
II) Added six pictures of the "Bally BASIC 300-Baud Tape Interface" box.
Bally Box Picture Area
III) Added picture of Bally Arcade TV Switchbox.
Bally Arcade TV Switchbox
February 9, 2010
I) Added screenshots of three Astrocade tapes:
1) ICBM Attack (Prototype) - By Brett Bilbrey [3 Pictures]
2) Niagara Bugs Club Tape [10 Pictures]
3) Road Toad - By Esoterica [4 Pictures]
Astrocade Tape Screen Shots
II) Added screenshots of two Astrocade cartridges:
1) Galaxian (Prototype) - By Astrovision [1 Picture]
2) Rainbow 3 - By Hanson and Richard Degler [3 Pictures]
Astrocade Cartridge Screen Shots
III) Added four pictures of Astrocade and Bally dust covers:
1) Bally Computer System (Montgomery Ward)
2) Bally Computer System
3) Bally Home Library Computer
4) Bally Professional Arcade
Astrocade Plastic Dust Covers
IV) Added two different high-res pictures of the Bally with keyboard. This
color version has never-before-seen detail.
White Bally Professional Arcade with Keyboard (Grayscale)
White Bally Professional Arcade with Keyboard (Color)
February 5, 2010
I) Added four tape covers or miscellaneous tape-cover related items to
the WaveMakers Box section.
1) Backgammon / Obstacle Course Tournament (Tape Cover)
2) Collision Course / Sound Effects (Spine)
3) Slot Machine / Perversion (Tape Cover)
4) WaveMakers Label (Close-Up)
WakeWakers Box Section
II) Added a red L&M Software sticker that was originally on tape "boxes."
L&M Software Sticker, Red
III) Reorganized and added two tape covers to the Miscellaneous Box Section.
1) Nam-Cap (Tape Case - Cover Only)
2) Video Wizards (Tape case)
Tape Covers in Miscellaneous Box Section
C
V) Added screenshots of three tapes:
1) Allemande, Part I & II - George Moses
2) Buggin' BC - Dave Ibach and George Moses
3) Crazy Face - Steve Walters
Tape Screenshots Area
February 4, 2010
I) Added Critter by Brett Bilbrey.
The famous program that was printed in the Arcadian newsletter. By just
inputting the BASIC program, the user will be able to use BASIC while at
the same time a critter will move about the screen at a speed given by
knob #1. The Bally BASIC program (not AstroBASIC!) and the machine
language program are included.
Critter by Brett Bilbrey
II) Added six BASIC type-in programs by Super software (Robert Rosenhouse):
1) Barricade - Barricade is misspelled as Barracade on the
program listing.
2) Cosmic Zap
3) Hustle - One version includes instructions (and a bug fix!). The
other version does not include these changes.
4) Mystery Maze - One version includes instructions (and bug fixes!).
The other version does not include these changes.
5) Robert Alert
6) Simon Says
Super Software BASIC Type-in Program Area
III) Added instructions for Finders-Keepers by Ken Lill to the tape
manual area.
From 2 to 4 people compete at the same time: Try to find the Secret Dot
that the computer has selected in your area before your opponents find
the one in their areas.
Finders-Keepers Instructions
IV) Added instructions for the tape game "Space Gauntlet," by The Tiny Arcade.
You control a star cruiser patrolling a remote sector of the galaxy when
you encounter the local inhabitants. These denizens of deep-space don't
"cotton" to strangers and they arrange themselves into two columns,
firing missiles and challenging you to fly between them and survive the
deadly gauntlet.
Space Gauntlet Instructions
V) Added WaveMaker's type-in programs from tape #3:
1) Maze Race & Obstacle Course
2) Space Chase
WaveMaker's Type-In Programs from Tape #3
VI) Added three pictures of the "Leather Bound" Case for Bally BASIC Manual.
Bally Box Picture Area
VII) Added twelve pictures of inventory stickers used for Astrocade boxes,
plus two examples of where they are used on the box itself:
Sides of Boxes
1) Blackjack - Poker - 5002
2) Red Baron - Panzer Attack - 2003
Inventory Stickers:
1) Amazin' Maze - Tic-Tac-Toe - 5001
2) Bally Pin - 3005
3) Blackjack - Poker - 5002
4) Brickyard - Clown - 2004
5) Cosmic Raiders - 2019
6) Galactic Invasion - 2011
7) Grand Prix - 2014
8) Incredible Wizard, The - 2017
9) Letter Match - 4002
10) Red Baron - Panzer Attack - 2003
11) Space Fortress - 2012
12) Star Battle - 2005
Inventory Stickers, in the Astrocade Box Area
VIII) Updated the links page with an addition, deletion and fixed links.
Bally Arcade / Astrocade Links
IX) Updated the Miscellaneous Tape Picture Area:
1) Added "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Program
Package" - By R. Tietjens
2) Updated "Bally BASIC Program Sampler" with 300 DPI image
Miscellaneous Tape Picture Area
February 3, 2010
I) Added hi-res scans (at least 300DPI) of 27 Astrocade cartridges:
1) 280 Zzzap / Dodgem
2) Amazing Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe (Bally)(Orange Label)
Amazing Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe (Bally)(Red Label)
3) Artillary Duel (Astrocade)
4) Astro Battle (Bally)
5) Astrocade Pinball (Astrocade)
6) Bally BASIC (Bally)
7) Bally Demo (Bally)
8) Bally Pin (Bally)
Bally Pin (Bally)(Alt)
9) Biorhythm (Bally)
10) Blackjack / Poker / Acey/Deucy (Bally)
Blackjack / Poker / Acey/Deucy (Bally)(Alt)
11) Clowns / Brickyard (Bally)
Clowns / Brickyard (Bally)(Alt)
12) Cosmic Raiders (Astrocade)
13) Dog Patch (Bally)
Dog Patch (Bally)(Alt)
14) Elementary Math / Bingo Math (Bally)
15) Football (Bally)
Football (Alt)
16) Galactic Invasion (Astrocade)
Galactic Invasion (Bally)
17) Grand Prix (Bally)
18) Incredible Wizard, The (Astrocade)
19) Letter Match / Spell 'N Score / Crosswords
20) Panzer Attack / Red Baron (Astrocade)
Panzer Attack / Red Baron (Bally)
21) Pirate's Chase (Astrocade)
22) Seawolf / Missile
23) Space Fortress (Bally)
24) Space Invaders
25) Space Invaders (Bally)
26) Star Battle (Bally)
27) Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball (Bally)
Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball (Bally)(Alt 1)
Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Hockey / Handball (Bally)(Alt 2)
Astrocade / Bally Cartridge Area
II) Updated the Cartridge Prototype Area:
1) Updated Solar Conqueror to 300 DPI
2) Added new version of Solar Conqueror "Test Program"
3) Added Galaxian Prototype
4) Removed 150 DPI version of "Final Test" (there is now only
a 300 DPI version).
Cartridge Prototype Area
III) Updated the third-party cartridge area:
1) Added Blue Ram BASIC 1.0
2) Deleted 150 DPI versions and replaced with 300 DPI versions of these
three cartridges: Blue Ram BASIC 1.1, Machine Language Manager,
Maze Man, and Quadra.
Third-Party Cartridge Area
February 2, 2010
I) Added new and/or high quality versions of 17 L&M Software tapes:
1) 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe / River City Gambler
2) Air Raid / The Mummy's Treasure
3) Ayatolla Dartboard / Mission Impossible
4) Black Lagoon, The / Kill the Vulcan
5) Black Lagoon II, The / Super Sleuth
6) Bombardier / Crazy Ball
7) Claim Jumpers / Light Show Program #2
8) Color Organ / Light Show Demo - Multi Program Format
9) Galactic War / Atom Smasher
10) Light Show Demo / Multi Program Format
11) Phantom Star Fighters / Space Checkers
12) Search and Destroy / Rescue Air Drop
13) Secrets of Pellucitor I / Secrets of Pellucitor II
14) Space Quest / Fox and the Hare
15) Space Sleuth / Coyote-Roadrunner Desert Race
16) Star Base 2000
17) Target / Sink the U-Boat
L&M Software Picture Area
II) Updated the Esoterica Tape picture area. Alphabetized the tapes and
added high-quality pictures of some of the lower quality scans.
Esoterica Tape Picture Area
III) Replaced all of the W&W Software Sales tape pictures with high-
quality versions. Also added a picture of the back of each tape:
1) Tape #1
2) Tape #3
3) Tape #4
4) Tape #5
5) Tape #9
W&W Software Sales Tape Picture Area
IV) Added pictures of sixteen WaveMakers tapes-- there is nearly a complete
collection now.
1) Tape 2 - Computer Clue / Flying Ace
2) Tape 3 - Maze Race - Obstacle Course / Space Chase - Also added
alternate version of this tape.
3) Tape 4 - Perversion / Slot Machine - Also added alternate version
of this tape.
4) Tape 5 - Music Composer - Memory Doodle (low-res version)
5) Tape 7 - Tuning - Guitar Course / Note Match - Chord Progression
6) Tape 8 - Backgammon / Obstacle Course Tournament
7) Tape 9 - Pack Rat I / Pack Rat II - Also added alternate low-res
version of one side of this tape.
8) Tape 10 - Lookout for the Bull! I / Lookout for the Bull! II
9) Tape 11 - Whiz Quiz / Compilation - Compilation includes:
1. Character Analysis, 2. Castle of Horrors, 3. Mouse in
the Hat, 4. Pack-Rat.
10) Tape 12 - Castle of Horror - Four Famous Freebies
11) Tape 13 - Monkey Jump - Note: This version does not have Gong
the Kong on side 2... I don't think...
12) Tape 14 - Collision Course - An Alternate tape has The Gate Escape
(from tape 18).
13) Tape 15 - Character Analysis
14) Tape 16 - Dungeons of Dracula - The back of this tape has The
Gate Escape (from tape 18).
15) Tape 17 - L.T. (Little Terrestrial)
16) Tape 18 - The Gate Escape / Whack-a-Mole
WaveMakers Picture Area
V) Added four pictures of the tape album that the WaveMakers Master tapes
were stored in.
1) WaveMakers Master Tape Album (Closed)
2) WaveMakers Master Tape Album (3/4 View)
3) WaveMakers Master Tape Album (Partially Closed)
4) WaveMakers Master Tape Album (Open)
WaveMakers Master Tape Album
January 29, 2010
I) Added a high-quality scan of the General Video Assembler
keypad overlay:
General Video Assembler keypad overlay
II) Added four New Image games released on tape. A scan of both the front
and the back are available.
1) Claustrophobia / Catch the Bomb
2) Guess Five / Chuck A Luck
3) Haunted House
4) Nam-Cap
New Image Tape Area
III) Revised "Miscellaneous Tape Area." Also added twenty-two pictures of
miscellaneous tapes. The titles of the tapes are:
1) Checkers III / Treasures of Cathy - By John Collins
2) Finders Keepers / Two-Letter Music Maker - By Ken Lill
3) General Video Assembler - By General Video (Dave Ibach)
4) Goldfish Demo - By The Bit Fiddlers
5) Pepsi TV Game - By Steve Walters
6) Sonic Satellite / Sonic Satellite (Revised) - By George Hale
7) Space Gauntlet - By The Tiny Arcade
8) Guess Five / Quick Draw / Skunk Tape - by Spectre Systems... but
programs - by New Image (Don Gladden)
9) Star Siege (Revised) - By The Tiny Arcade
10) Video Wizards Compilation Tape - By Video Wizards (with
alternate version)
Pictures - Miscellaneous Tape Area
IV) Added Astrocade Pinball Cartridge Manual in PDF format.
Astrocade Pinball Cartridge Manual
V) Added twelve images of six L&M software tapes. The tapes are:
1) Alien Invasion / Claim Jumper
2) Bit-Mapping Demo / Nautilus and Exitor's Revenge
3) Bombardier / The Black Lagoon
4) Crazy Ball / Ayatollah Dart Board
5) Exitor's Revenge / The Mummy's Treasure
6) Nautilus / 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe
L&M Tape Picture Area
VI) Added nine images of four Michigan Astro Bugs Club tapes. The tapes are:
1) Michigan Astro Bugs Club, Tape #2
2) Rescue Force / 10,000 RND Boxes
3) Star Base 11 / Collatz Conjecture
4) Yearly Misc. Income / "She Loves You"
Pictures of Michigan Astro Bugs Club Tapes
January 28, 2010
I) Completely revamped the Astrocade cartridge area. The cartridges have
been put into separate categories.
Astrocade Cartridge Picture Area
II) Added five prototype cartridges (or ROMs) to the Prototype Cartridge Area
1) ADS Monitor (ROM Only)
2) Color BASIC
3) G.I. Joe
4) Rainbow, Ver. 2 (ROM Only)
5) Vipersoft BASIC
Prototype Cartridge Picture Area
III) Added two cartridges to the Third-Party Cartridge Area:
1) Beatles Music from Richard Degler (Multicart)
2) Music Maker
Third-Party Cartridge Picture Area
IV) Added a picture of Astrocade Pinball.
Astrocade Pinball Picture
January 27, 2010
I) The recent Haunted House and Claustrophobia manuals should have been
separated, as they two games did not come together. The two new manuals
are available here:
1) Claustrophobia and Catch the Bomb
2) Haunted House
New Image Tape Manual Area
II) Added an introduction letter from ZIG (Zgrass Information Group). This
letter states the purpose of the organization. This document was
included with a letter to Bob Fabris in 1983.
III) Added a low-res still picture from 'Zgrass Paint Demo' 1982 Video
on YouTube.
Zgrass Picture
IV) Added "Astrocade Owners!" half-Page ad from Electronic Games,
January 1983
The ad is a list of companies that support that Astrocade. Each of the
companies listed has contact information, along with a brief summary of
what they do. The companies in the end are:
1) ABC Hobbycraft
2) Arcadian Newsletter
3) The Astrobug's User's Group
4) Astrocade Sourcebook
5) Bit Fiddlers, The
6) Esoterica, Inc.
7) George Moses Co.
8) Home Arcade Electronics
9) H.A.R.D. Software
10) L&M Software
11) 1) Perkins Engineering
12) R&L Enterprises
13) SFP Video Expansion
14) Spectre Systems
15) Tiny Arcade, The
16) TV Arcade Sales
17) Viper System - Alternative Engineering
"Astrocade Owners!" PDF. (In Context, with magazine and full page)
"Astrocade Owners!" JPG. (Cropped, for Ad only - Higher-Quality)
V) Added "Express Stop" Letter published in Electronic Games
Magazine, November 1982.
The letter from Alfonzo Smith, Jr. (Cleveland, Ohio) asks what happened
to the BASIC Express newsletter. The editor explains that the newsletter
is no longer published and that an upcoming article concerning the
Astrocade will be published in the January issue.
"Express Stop" Letter in Electronic Games
VI) Added "Bally Computer System Specifications for Video Console and
Programmer's Keyboard"
Compares features against various systems of the era (Apple II,
Commodore PET, Compucolor Renaissance, Exidy Sorcerer, and Radio Shack
TRS-80 Level II). The features compared are CPU, Program Storage, Inputs,
Outputs, Multi-Source of Attachments (i.e. RS-232 or S-100 bus) and Price.
Bally Computer System Specs for Video Console and Programmer's Keyboard
VI) Added "Facts and Figures about the Bally Professional Arcade
and Computer Add-On"
So much of this document never came to be in the unit that was finally
sold. Nevermind what was never released (the computer add-on), even
simple facts are wrong or misleading. For instance, the stated speed of
the tape interface is 4,800-BAUD. It was released as 300-BAUD. Quite a
difference. It's no wonder that the first wave of Bally Arcade owners
felt like they had been lied to about what they would get. This is a
must-read document.
Sections include:
1) About Our New Computer
2) Software
3) Hardware
4) Hardware Comparision Chart
5) Questions and Answers
Basic Unit
Add-On Module
Business Applications
Technical Questions
Facts and Figures about the Bally Professional Arcade and Computer Add-On
January 26, 2010
I) Added alternate version of the Bally Professional Arcade Owner's
Manual (Bally "Fun and Brain" Version)
This isn't as clean or high-quality of a scan as the regular version,
but this manual has a different version number on the back of the
booklet (though there are no apparent differences).
Bally Professional Arcade Owner's Manual (Alt. Version)
II) Moved "Chain Store Age 'Catalog'" from Ads and Catalog area to the
Astrocade and Bally "Markering Area," which is where it should have been
all along.
Chain Store Age 'Catalog'
III) Added Ad, "Astrocade... the home video game that's a computer too!"
Three Built-in Games, Built-in Calculator, Octave Music Synthesizer,
256 Color Variations, Four-Player Capability, and BASIC Program. From
the October 1982 issue of Boy's Life.
"Astrocade... the home video game that's a computer too!" Ad
IV) Added a list of WaveMakers' twenty released tapes (not including
expandedBASIC games) to the WaveMakers' 2000-BAUD program download page.
WaveMakers, 2000-BAUD Program Download Page
V) Created a new area to hold letters written to The Arcadian newsletter.
When the entire Bob Fabris collection was bought, it included many letters
(written in the 1970's and '80's), many, or most, of which were never
printed before. The two letters that are included today are:
1) (1984) - To Bob, From Lance Brisee
Includes two program submissions: Phaser Phun and Sideswipe (both of
which are modified programs from the Astrocade BASIC manual).
2) 1985) - To Don, From Unknown
Talks about all the different computers that he owns and some hardware
and software ideas. Says that the Computer Ear, for the Astrocade,
is compatible with the Commodore 64 and Atari computers without any
modifications. Mentions some programs that he has submitted, but that
are not included in this letter.
Letters to the Arcadian Area
VI) Added three L&M Software Tape Manuals (available in both B&W and color):
1) Ayatollah Dart Board & Crazy Ball
2) Black Lagoon, The
3) Bombardier
L&M Software Tape Manual Area
VII) Added manual for New Image's Haunted House and Claustrophobia.
Haunted House and Claustrophobia Manual
VIII) Added alternate color (green) manual for WaveMaker's
L.T. (Little Terrestrial):
L.T. (Little Terrestrial), Green Manual
IX) Added a picture of Fred Cornet. This is the publisher of the Cursor
newsletter (AKA BASIC Express). This picture was developed in
January of 1980 and was provided by Brett Bilbrey.
Picture of Fred Cornet from 1980
January 25, 2010
I) Added five videogame catalogs. The catalogs, with contents, are listed here:
1. Five Fun Cartridges for the Bally Professional Arcade
This 6-page catalog contains these five cartridges:
Biorhythm
Galactic Invasion
Grand Prix / Demolition Derby
Music Maker I (Unreleased)
Space Fortress
2. Expandable Computer with Today's Greatest Games
Except for the first page, this 4-page catalog is identical to
the "More Games. More Fun... more to Come!" catalog. That
catalog features a white Bally Arcade, this catalog features a
woodgrain Astrocade. This catalog features the "ZGRASS-32
Keyboard" and also contains these 20 cartridges:
280 Zzzap / Dodgem
Amazin' Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe
Astro Battle
Bally BASIC
Bally Pin
Bingo Math / Speed Math
Biorhythm
Blackjack / Poker / Acey-Duecy
Brickyard / Clowns
Dog Patch
Football
Galactic Invasion
Grand Prix / Demolition Derby
Letter Match / Spell 'N Score / Crosswords
Music Maker I (Unreleased)
Red Baron / Panzer Attack
Sea Wolf / Missile
Space Fortress
Star Battle
Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Handball / Hockey
3. More Games. More Fun... more to Come!
This 4-page catalog features the "ZGRASS-32 Keyboard" and also
contains the same 20 cartridges as listed in the "Expandable
Computer with Today's Greatest Games" catalog.
4. More Games. More Fun. More to Come...
This twenty-four page catalog from July 1981 features 21 games.
All of them, except Music Maker I, were released.
280 ZZZap / Dodgem
Amazing Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe
Astrobattle
Bally BASIC (with built-in tape interface)
Biorhythm
Blackjack / Poker / Acey-Deucey
Brickyard / Clowns
Dog Patch
Football
Galactic Invasion
Grand Prix / Demolition Derby
Letter Match / Spell 'N Score / Crosswords
Music Maker I (Unreleased)
Pirate's Chase
Red Baron / Panzer Attack
Seawolf / Missile
Space Fortress
Speed Math / Bingo Math
Star Battle
Tornado Baseball / Tennis / Handball / Hockey
5. More Games. More Fun. More to Come... from the leader in video
game technology.
This 8 1/2" x 11" folded catalog contains these nine cartridges:
Coloring Book with Light Pen (Unreleased)
Cosmic Raiders
Munchie (Unreleased)
Music Maker I (Unreleased)
Pirate's Chase
Quest for the Orb (Unreleased)
Solar Conqueror
Space Fortress
The Wizard (Released as The Incredible Wizard)
Bally / Astrocade Catalog Area
II) Created a "Flyer Area" here:
Flyer Area
January 24, 2010
I) Added an Astrocade Kiosk Area with an additional high-quality B&W picture.
Astrocade Kiosk Area
II) Added an ad from the January 1982 issue of Leisure Time Electronics. It's
titled: "Bally Professional Arcade: The Fun Lives On!"
Leisure Time Electronics Ad (January 1982)
III) Added five flyers to the advertisement area:
1) Astro Arcade: Doesn't Just Play Games (BASIC Flyer)
2) Astrocade, The Professional Arcade: Gives You More!
3) Bally Professional Arcade: Home TV Entertainment Center
4) You Love Us in the Arcades. Just Wait Till You Get Us Home.
5) Arcade: Doesn't Just Play Games, 1982 TV Schedule, January 6-9'th
Advertisement Area
IV) Updated the "Inside the Box" Area:
1) Added thumbnails for all documents
2) Added Bally Professional Arcade Owner's Manual (Bally Version)
3) Deleted old version of Bally Professional Arcade Owner's Manual
(Fun and Brains Version) and replaced with much better scan
of the same manual.
Inside the Box
January 23, 2010
I) Added Speed Math / Bingo instructions. These replace the poor
quality, 1980's era photocopy, Bally instructions that were already online.
Speed Math / Bingo Instructions
II) Updated, again, the "Cartridge Manuals Needed" document:
Cartridge Manuals Needed
III) Added picture of Astrocade shipping box:
Astrocade Shipping Box
IV) Added seven Polaroids from the Bob Fabris collection. These Polaroids
seem to be from the development of the Viper expansion unit. Notice
that the front of this unit is white and not brown.
Viper in Deveopment
V) Added three pictures of the Analog controller used with the very rare
ICBM Attack cartridge by Spectre. Notice that this plugs into
two controller ports.
ICBM Attack Controller
January 19, 2010
I) Added the year 2009 to the "What's New" archive. The archive now covers
from 2000-2009. That's ten years of Ballyalley.com!
whats_new_archives_(2000-2009).html
II) Added nine Astrocade box pictures for comparison. Here are some comments by
Paul Thacker about these box comparisons:
"I bought a collection of six NIB carts in the Astrovision-style packaging--
AstroBASIC, Galactic Invasion, Star Battle, Grand Prix, Brickyard/Clowns, and
The Incredible Wizard. I found it amusing all the small variations in the
boxes, probably due to the limited time Astrovision had the rights to use the
Bally name, and Astrovision's own name change to Astrocade. Only the BASIC
cart says Astrocade on the back; the others say Astrovision. On the front and
sides, some say Bally and some say Astrocade. Of the ones that say Astrocade,
sometimes it's printed directly on the box, and other times it's on a sticker
(presumably covering up Bally)."
Here is what is being compared:
1) Astrocade Box Packaging (BASIC)(Front)
2) Astrocade Box Packaging with Overlaid Sticker (Galactic Invasion)
3) Bally Box Packaging (Star Battle)(Front)
4) Astrocade Box Packaging (Back, Astrocade version from BASIC)
5) Astrocade Box Packaging (Back, Astrovision version seen on all
but BASIC)
6) Astrocade Box Packaging (Top)
7) Astrocade Box Packaging (Bottom)
8) Astrocade Box Packaging (Left Side)
9) Astrocade Box Packaging (Right Side)
Astrocade Box Comparisons
III) Added two high-resolution scans of two unopened Bally boxes:
1) Dog Patch
2) Red Baron / Panzer Attack
Bally Boxes
IV) Added eight instructions for Astrocade games:
1) Amazing Maze / Tic-Tac-Toe (Astrovision)
2) Cosmic Raiders (Astrocade)
3) Dog Patch (Bally)
4) Letter Match / Spell 'n Score / Crosswords (Astrovision)
5) Missile Attack (Text Version)
6) Red Baron / Panzer Attack (Astrovision)
7) Sneaky Snake (New Image)
8) Soccer and Shootout (Text Updated, added missing line)
Cartridge Manual Area
V) Updated the "Cartridge Manuals Needed" document:
Cartridge Manuals Needed
January 15, 2010
I) Added scanned book:
30 Customized Microprocessor Projects
By Delton T. Horn
Copyright 1986, by TAB BOOKS (ISBN - 0-8306-0705-6)
Despite the seemingly generic name, this book covers, exclusively, Z80
hardware projects. Here is what the book contains:
Table of Contents
Introduction
List of Projects
Section I - The Basics
Chapter 1 - The Basics of Circuit Design
Chapter 2 - Digital Basics
Chapter 3 - The CPU
Chapter 4 - Semiconductor Memory
Chapter 5 - Interfacing
Section II - Projects
Chapter 6 - CPU Breadboard
Chapter 7 - EPROM Programmer
Chapter 8 - Timer / Automation Systems
Chapter 9 - Security Systems
Chapter 10 - Test Equipment
Chapter 11 - Robots
Chapter 12 - Sound Synthesis
Chapter 13 - Programming
Appendices
Appendix A - The Z80 Instruction Set
Appendix B - Hexadecimal Instruction Codes for the Z80
Appendix C - Sample Computer Programs
Index
30 Customized Microprocessor Projects
What's New - Archives (2000-2009)
I) These archives go back to October 22, 2000. Bally Alley is actually older than
that, but not by much.
whats_new_archives_(2000-2009).html
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