28 years ago PCBs were expensive! £244 for the first batch of boards for my #SAMCoupe Quazar Surround soundcard, my first hardware release for the SAM!

Now the new anniversary edition boards are about to be sent for manufacture!

I've kept just about everything from the last 30 years of developing. I'm slowly documenting everything to use in future articles and snippets.

Pre-orders are open for issues 27 and 28 of SAM Revival magazine
-> https://www.samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #Retrocomputing

Save on SAM Revival magazine for the #SAMCoupe computer this Easter weekend! (Offer open 7-10th April)

Issues 1-8 £3.49 each
Issues 9-23 £5.99 each
Issues 24-26 £8.49 each
(Excluding shipping).

See https://www.samcoupe.com/samrevival.htm for the magazine contents for each issue and information on the software on the bundled cover disks from issue 9 onwards.

For discounted orders please DM / Email via website.

#SAMCoupe #Quazar30 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #Retrogames #Gamedev #Indiedev #Computing

While I was at the Retro Computer Museum in Leicester on Saturday I tried a few more #VIC20 cartridges from their collection with my VIC Cartridge Interface on the #SAMCoupe.

More games should be working after some emulator patching once I see what's going wrong, e.g. controls and default palette in Garden Wars.

#quazar30 #retrogaming #gamedev #retrocomputing

Had a great day over at the Retro Computer Museum in Leicester yesterday.

Two of the museum's #samcoupe inhabitants are now upgraded with new mechanical keyboards, disk drives, memory etc) Will have to pass on my 'NetPac' game I wrote many years ago to let 2 SAM Coupe's play pac-man via their built in slow network...

Everything I do for the SAM Coupe: Hardware, software, repairs, SAM Revival magazine etc ->
https://samcoupe.com

#quazar30 #retrogaming #retrocomputing #indiedev #retrogames

It would have been 30 years ago, near enough to the day, that I posted a cheque for £249.98 to buy my first SAM Coupe and mouse!

30 years on and I'm still developing for the system ->
https://www.samcoupe.com

An article I wrote (in 2006) covering the SAM's early history and the start of my developing for the system ->
http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=1045138&postcount=6

Latest Releases:
- VIC-20 Cart Reader for SAM
- SAM Revival magazine, issue 26

#samcoupe #quazar30 #keepingit8bit #gamedev #indiedev #retrocomputing

Back to normality and getting on with things. Still gutted at having to cancel going to the RCM at such short notice. Outstanding orders will be out the door over the next couple of days - apologies for added delays.

Launched last month:
- Parallel Printer Interface for the SAM Coupe.

Launching next week:
- VIC-20 Cartridge Interface for the SAM Coupe (limited edition)

Up next:
- Quazar Surround 25th Anniversary Edition (limited edition)

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing

PCBs arrived earlier... let some late night soldering commence! 😄

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing

There's a parcel of PCBs out for delivery for my next hardware releases for the SAM Coupe. It's due to arrive in the next couple of hours! *giddy excitement* 🤣

Everything I do for the SAM Coupe ->
https://www.samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #8bit

Following yesterday's late night final PCB routing session that's several new PCBs now submitted for manufacture.

Give me about 10 days and I'll be back to show off the new hardware, it's all looking good to be ready in time for a retro show!

(Still awaiting rail strike updates but should be fine as the 14 days notice period has just passed for the show in mind.)

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #VIC20

Just finished the PCB designs for my next hardware release for the SAM Coupe, which will be out towards the end of the month!

Everything I do for the #SAMCoupe computer: Hardware, software, SAM Revival magazine and more...

https://www.samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #VIC20 #Indiedev #Gamedev

First new release of 2023 - Parallel Printer Port interface for the SAM Coupe.

Compatible as per original MGT parallel port specs, with a switch to select if it acts as Printer Port 1 (default, used by the SAM's BASIC for LLIST, LPRINT etc and just about every other program) or Port 2. Bundled with new centronics printer cable.

To order please contact via my website: https://www.samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #retrocomputing #hardware #retrogaming

Updated my little test board for testing the Centronics cables I've soldered up to bundle with my new Parallel Printer Port for the #SAMCoupe.

All the testing is now complete and I'm completing a small batch of interface+cable bundles. These will be available from the weekend onwards. Fully compatible with the old parallel printer interface standards for the SAM from the 1990s.

#Quazar30 #RetroComputing #Retrogaming #Hardware #Computing

A few dates already penciled in the diary for some retro shows to attend this year. I had a great time at all the shows last year.😄

Although with the onslaught of yet more strikes affecting rail/travel (such as today's "Walkout Wednesday") I won't really be able to confirm what shows I will be at until 2 weeks before. 😡

#Quazar30 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #IndieDev #SAMCoupe #ZXSpectrum #RC2014

New hardware I'm releasing in February for the SAM Coupe:

- VIC-20 Cartridge Interface (prototype in photo)
[Limited Edition. Interested? DM/Email]

- Parallel Printer Port
[Bundled with parallel cable. Compatible with original MGT/SAMCo printer interfaces, with some flaws fixed!]

https://www.samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #Retrocomputing #Retrogaming #Hardware #Computing #8bit #Indiedev

Conquest (SAM Coupe, 1997).

One of my favourite games. Shows what can be done in SAM BASIC! Played to death when adding in Quazar Surround soundcard effects back in 1997 for the author before it's release. Brill strategy game, fun when battles start!

One of the many SAM games I bought the rights to. Revamped for re-release in 2007 on the cover disk with issue 19 of SAM Revival magazine:

https://www.samcoupe.com
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114882441970

#Quazar30 #Retrogames #Retrogaming #Indiegame #indiedev

Building up some Centronics printer cables...

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Retrocomputing

@LordArse I won't hover over the gif to start the animation! I'll stay on the SAM Coupe thank you very much!

30 years ago I bought my first SAM and have been developing for it ever since!

It's going to be a very busy year! 3 new hardware releases and SAM Revival 27 coming in February / March! 😀

https://www. samcoupe.com

#Quazar30 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing

This evening's soldering is a batch of Mechanical Keyboards for the SAM Coupe.

I designed these in 2021, releasing in October that year. They're the ultimate replacement for old, faulty membranes to keep SAM Coupe keyboards functioning well into the future!

Web -> https://samcoupe.com

eBay -> https://ebay.co.uk/itm/115671416702

#Quazar30 #SAMCoupe #Computing #Hardware #Keyboard

Two more cartridge games working for the forthcoming VIC-20 Cartridge interface for the SAM Coupe!

Frogger and Raid on Fort Knox.

Even with the slow emulation speed, both of these are VERY playable on the SAM.

#Quazar30 #VIC20 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing #SAMCoupe

Another cartridge working with the forthcoming VIC-20 Cartridge interface for the #SAMCoupe!

#Quazar30 #VIC20 #Retrogaming #Retrocomputing