Is the Sprinter computer interesting for the Demoscene?
If Demoscene is your choice, go to the RAWW.ORG and post your opinion.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

Well, I think it definitly is.
the only problems are:
1) people don't know the machine very well yet.
2) party-organizers should make compos for Sprinter on their meetings.

1) people don't know the machine very well yet.

Sprinter, its useful emulator and sources of some software are available. We are ready to answer any questions about Sprinter and its programming.

2) party-organizers should make compos for Sprinter on their meetings.

Yes, but let's try to see any new demo before compos.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

I think there we will see demos on the sprinter in the future. But a new platform means alot of work for coders. If you wanted to code a demo on the sprinter, you would have to write sound replay routines, and if not using an excisting format, you'd also have to write a tracker. Most democoders don't have their own sound-replayer (like myself) and therefore do not know how to code one. Then you have to explore the graphic possibilities from the start (which could be very fun but also very time-consuming). Anyway i think that if one starts many will follow after him. I've noticed there are some demosceners in this forum, perhaps someone will take the initiative?

I agree that it will take some time for the Sprinter-based demoscene to really take off. This is to be expected, it's a new machine. But we have the advantage that it's Z80-based, and has ZX compatible modes. Initially the "scene" could start by making current demos compatible with the Sprinter. This way there would be more reason to have the machine at a party-place. As time went on demos would soon be released which would take advantage of the advanced features of the Sprinter.
Regarding routines that democoders use, yes it would be required for someone to write some of the routines... Shaos has already released libraries of routines (i think), so perhaps we could indulge in some harassment to get something like a PT3-player written? Or a .mod-player? This would mean that musicians wouldn't need to wait for a new tracker, and the coder could work on all the "new stuff".

Will it be possible to play MOD and show demo-effects?
You have to remember that music will use software mixing. :(

With the doom demo there is another cool demo that show basically the same as doom demo but different cats on the walls ;) and with the music from classic pc demo "Second Reality/Future Crew".
So i guess this is some modplayer but maybe in PLD in some way??

It would be cool if everyone could program PLD, but there was legal problems with this??? Or maybe you could break your sprinter if you did something wrong..

this intrigues me hehe... :)

It would be cool if everyone could program PLD, but there was legal problems with this??? Or maybe you could break your sprinter if you did something wrong..

Our copyrights on all our versions of firmware for Sprinter PLD are reserved, certainly.
But we are not a monopolist of Sprinter configurations. We plan to publish (in April) free pattern of Sprinter PLD project for Max+. BTW, publishing of Sp2000 mainboard scheme is the first step to it.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

I hope too we'll see some Sprinter demos one day... I think it would be nice to have an extended BASIC that supports the new features of the Sprinter and can compile programs, a bit like AMOS or Amiga or GFA Basic on Atari. Then even non-programmers could be productive :)

I hope too we'll see some Sprinter demos one day...

Yes. Already created simple demos show the Sprinter possibility, I think.

I think it would be nice to have an extended BASIC that supports the new features of the Sprinter and can compile programs

And what do you think about subprogramms (like Supercode for Spectrum) which allow to use Sprinter BIOS functions with Spectrum Basic?

BTW we plan to publish soon a Spectrum C compiler with library for Sprinter. It is a lost Russian С compiler which not well known even in Russia.



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PETERS PLUS LTD