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Atari Asteroids AutoPlay

Introduction

Goal at Beginning of Project

The goal of this project is to use a combination of custom build physical hardware and Microsoft's C# Programming Language to create an automated Asteroids “Player”. Methodologies based around how this will happen are beyond the scope of this description but two components will be necessary. These major parts/questions of the project are: How do I get the Asteroids input into the computer? How do I then interpret the “screen” and send appropriate signals back to the controls?

Goal at End of Project

To be completed at end of project.

Background

This project is something I've dreamed of doing for about 5-6 years. I've seen videos of players playing Asteroids with their extra ship count spanning across their entire screen. I've also been very interested in some day coupling the physical world with my programming skills. I don't know a terrible amount about electronic theory but I have built quite a few electrical projects, never have designed my own circuit. This will definitely be a long and trying process.

Tools Used

We will be using Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate Edition with C# as the programming language of choice. As far as physical tools I have a wide assortment of tools including a an oscilloscope, digital multimeter, etc.

Assumptions

I am using an Atari Asteroids upright cabinet manufactured in 1979. The monitor assembly is an Electrohome G05-801 Black & White Vector Monitor. The installed ROM is Rev 2 which displays “1979 Atari” at the bottom of the title screen.

Electronics Notes

Electrohome Input Pin Assignments (Deflection Amplifier - P703)

Pin No Description Impedance Voltage
1 X 1K Ohms +/- 10V (0V Center)
2 GND
3 Y 1K Ohms +/- 7.5V (0V Center)
4 GND
5 Z 220 Ohms Min 0.5V Blanking
1.0V Off
4.0V Full On
6 Key
7 GND

Source: Instruction and Service Manual - G05 Monochrome X-Y Monitor "Quadrascan" - Page 8

Programming Notes

None.

Daily Log

3/12/2013 @ 8:35am

Started the write up and research for the project.

3/12/2013 @ 7:18pm

Did some investigation with the oscilloscope. I made this video:

YouTube: Atari Asteroids - Oscilloscope Vector Output

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to use the vector output as the input into the computer it moves awful fast and I'm not sure serial communications are going to be able to keep up. Another approach I may be able take is to investigate the possibility of watching the input and output to the vector RAM and looking at that for WHERE the objects are. So I'll have to draw them myself.

3/13/2013 @ 1:20pm

So I need to catch up from my experimentation lastnight. I discerned a lot. I made images of all of the Atari schematics:

Atari Asteroids - Drawing Package Supplement (Schematics) - Contains All 4 Sheets, In High Resolution

And then got to work. I looked around and made a few posts:

VAPS - Asteroids Computer Input Project
Reddit - What is the most effective way to monitor the PCB communications of an old arcade game?

A very helpful person on Reddit showed me the world of Logic Analyzers. I found a device online: Saleae Logic. It's an 8 channel USB connected logic analyzer that has software for displaying them all in sequence on the PC. Saleae also has a .NET extensions that allows you to interface with the sensors in .NET. Perfect for what I need it for, so I bought it for $100.

I then got to thinking that now I need to determine where I am going to intercept the data. This is where I found an AMAZINGLY detailed page:

The Secret Life Of Vector Generators, By Jed Margolin

I have also created a local copy (don't kill me Jed!) simply because I know a lot of these times of sites phase in and out of existence. I would hate for all of this great data to disappear. You can find the local copy here.

Major Challenges

Resources Used

project/atari_asteroids_autoplay.1363206838.txt.gz · Last modified: 2013/03/13 20:33 by smark
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