Mega-Cart

[pitcalco]

With respect to all those involved, would it be out of line for those of us that have a Mega-Cart to make EPROM copies and duplicate these cartridges ourselves, seeing that the project is on ice anyway?

[e5frog]

It's not that simple.

A functional Mega-Cart is more than just eproms.

I'm still selling mine, I was thinking $90, original package and instructions... will see about that overlay as well...

[pitcalco]

The practicality may indeed not be as simple as I put it, e5frog.

Still, the essence of my question is whether or not it would be wrong morally or altogether impractical for someone else (or maybe more than one of us) to duplicate the Mega-Cart and continue to distribute in that manner, seeing that the original project is in a bit of a state of limbo?

Certainly, the technical aspects would leave much to be discussed.

[e5frog]

They put a copyright notice on it so - as with other copyrighted stuff there's a risk involved if going at it without asking for permission.

Found images of the 2009 edition online (don't know if PCB was updated but I know the data was - I asked to get the files to update two new otp roms but... nope), cut them down to size a bit.

As far as IC:s go there's 74HCT27, '14, '74, '21, '00, '00, '373, '373 and LS148, 148, 2x 27C801, STK12C68-SF451 (a fast static RAM with a nonvolatile element in each memory cell) and a CY62256NLL-70 SRAM and a few other components as can be seen.

Unless there's some secrecy with that STK12C68 it should be quite easy to copy the whole thing, "just" desolder everything, scan the board and start the process of making a board, preferably also a schematic.
Don't want to step on anyone's toes but it looks autorouted and could perhaps be simplified a bit

Someone should be able to reach out to NBLA000 and/or 6502dude - to ask about it.
However, is there enough interested people for anyone to spend the time and money needed to make it happen? Especially considering the alternatives available today (already mentioned)?

[ral-clan]

I am neither the hardware nor software designer, but I designed the packaging, cartridge label, instructions and keyboard overlay.

I probably would not be an obstacle to someone re-using these graphic elements in any reproduction run (heck, someone here on Denial is using my VIC-20 disco-man artwork from the Mega-Cart as their avatar)...but if there is any desire to recreate part of the artwork it would be appreciated if they did ask first.

My feeling is that Brian and nbla0000 would be reasonable if asked. This was never a profit making venture, but for the benefit of the community. If a re-issue was a profit making venture then it might be a different story (considering the grey areas of the binaries, too).

There is a Mega-Cart binary ROM image out there which works in VICE.

[Mikam73]

New Vic20 multicart with all Arma TAP games would be great..