diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 46ea435..8315236 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -1,2 +1,46 @@ gameduino ========= + +What is it? +----------- + +Gameduino is a game adapter for Arduino - or anything else with an SPI interface - built as a single shield that stacks up on top of the Arduino and has plugs for a VGA monitor and stereo speakers. + +Legal stuffs +------------ + +This project was created by James Bowman . I strongly recommand you to visit his website first as it always will contain the more recent and official information about the Gameduino. + +Why this repo? +-------------- + +This github repository is maintained by Manoel Trapier for his own project around Gameduino and by the fact there is missing a central repository with all needed file to build/hack your own Gameduino on Internet. James' website will of course store all of thoses files, but they are stored sparses around, and could be difficult to find. + + +The sound and graphics are definitely old-school, but thanks to the latest FPGA technology, the sprite capabilities are a step above those in machines from the past. + +video output is 400x300 pixels in 512 colors +all color processed internally at 15-bit precision +compatible with any standard VGA monitor (800x600 @ 72Hz) +background graphics +512x512 pixel character background +256 characters, each with independent 4 color palette +pixel-smooth X-Y wraparound scroll +foreground graphics +each sprite is 16x16 pixels with per-pixel transparency +each sprite can use 256, 16 or 4 colors +four-way rotate and flip +96 sprites per scan-line, 1536 texels per line +pixel-perfect sprite collision detection +audio output is a stereo 12-bit frequency synthesizer +64 independent voices 10-8000 Hz +per-voice sine wave or white noise +sample playback channel +The adapter is controlled via SPI read/write operations, and looks to the CPU like a 32Kbyte RAM. (Unlike many 8-bit machines, there are no restrictions on when you can access this RAM). There is a handy reference poster showing how the whole system works, and a set of sample programs and library. + +../_images/poster.jpg + +Licensing +--------- + +Gameduino is open-source hardware (BSD license) and all its code is GPL licensed. \ No newline at end of file