Game Link II

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Wersja z dnia 00:19, 7 sty 2005

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    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    GameLink-II Specification
    Copyright (c)1993 DataQue Software
    
    AGDAgon information Copyright (c)1993 The AGDA Group
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Version 1.0   December 27, 1993
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DataQue Software and The AGDA Group assume no responsibility for
    damages caused by individuals attempting to make the modifications
    described in this document.  Please read all instructions carefully!
    
    
    A) Normal SIO Physical Connections:
          
       1) The GameLink-II serial link uses the SIO bus which is standard on
          all Atari 8-bit computer systems.
          
       2) The SIO port is a 13-pin custom connector with the pins defined
          as follows:
          
           pin     name      source    function
           ---   --------   --------   -----------------------------------
            1    SCLK        PoKey     Serial Input Clock
            2    OCLK        PoKey     Serial Output Clock
            3    SID         PoKey     Serial Data Input
            4    DGND        Power     Data Ground 
            5    SOD         PoKey     Serial Data Output
            6    CGND        Power     Chassis Ground 
            7    COMMAND     PIA       Serial Command 
            8    MOTCTL      PIA       Cassette Motor Control 
            9    PROCEED     PIA       Interrupt input 
           10    +5V         Power     Processor Ready 
           11    AUDIO IN    PoKey     Audio in to modulator/PoKey
           12    +12V/NC     Power     Unused on XL/XE
           13    INTERRUPT   PIA       Interrupt input 
           
           
       3) A view of the free end of the SIO connector (the one on your
          8-bit computer) would appear as shown below:
          
                           ----------------------
                          / 2   4   6   8  10  12 \ 
                         /  o   o   o   o   o   o  \
                        /                           \
                       /  o   o   o   o   o   o   o  \
                      /   1   3   5   7   9  11  13   \
                      ---------------------------------
          




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                                                           GameLink-II Docs


       4) Note:  Unfortunately, every SIO cable we have run across (quite a
          few) had different colors for each of the wires.  The only wire
          that has been consistant is the chassis ground, which has always
          been a bare wire (shield drain).
          
       5) The GameLink-II specification does not use all of the SIO lines.
          
          
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    B) Temporary GameLink-II SIO Connections (2 nodes):
    
       Realizing that users might want to try "Maze of AGDAgon" and the
       GameLink II system before committing to building or buying a more
       permanent connection, we offer the following directions.  Follow
       these for a quick, temporary method to connect two Atari 8-bit
       computers together.
       
        1) Scrounge up two or three paper clips (the smaller size) and a
           rubber band.
           
        2) Bend and cut the clips into the following shapes with the
           dimensions shown below.  Make sure the cut ends do not have any
           burrs, as these could damage your SIO cables.
           
                  <--5/8"-->     <--5/8"-->     <---7/8"--->
                  ----------     ----------     ------------
              ^   |        |     |        |     |          |   ^
              |   |        |     |        |     |          |   |
             1/2" |        |     |        |     |          |   |
              |   |        |     |        |     |          |  3/4"
              v   |        |     |        |     |          |   |
                     "A"            "B"         |   "C"    |   |
                                                |          |   v
           
        3) Boot up the Host computer, load the AGDAgon.COM file, and
           disconnect the serial cable from the disk drive.  The other end
           of the serial cable should still be connected to your Atari.
           
        4) Get the other Atari ready (monitor or TV connected and turned
           on, serial cable plugged in).
           
        5) Take the free ends of the serial cables, and wrap the rubber
           band around the two connectors, so that the free ends face you
           like the diagram below:
           








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                                                           GameLink-II Docs


                            ----------------------
                           /                 C     \ 
                          /  o   o   o   o   o   o  \
                         /                           \
                        /  o   o   o   o   o   o   o  \
                       /                   A   B       \
                       ---------------------------------
                       ---------------------------------
                       \       A   B                   /
                        \  o   o   o   o   o   o   o  /
                         \                           /
                          \  o   o   o   o   o   o  /
                           \     C                 /
                            ----------------------
           
        6) Now take the first of the two smaller clips you made and gently
           push it into both pins marked "A" above.  If you feel great
           resistance, do not try to force the pins in, as you may damage
           the connectors on your serial cable.  Since the clips you have
           made are narrower than the standard Atari pins, they should not
           cause damage if inserted correctly.  Be careful not to
           accidentally short together any other pins.
           
        7) Take the second of the two smaller clips and push it into the
           pins marked "B" above.  Try to push the two pins in an equal
           amount.  It doesn't matter if the two clips touch each other.
           
        8) Take the remaining (longer) clip you made and push it into the
           pins marked "C" above.  Be careful not to short it against any
           other pins.  The third clip was intentionally made longer so
           that it won't be touching the other two clips when installed
           correctly.
           
        9) Place this assembly carefully on a table top and out of the way
           (don't leave it dangling from the two computers).
           
       10) Turn on the second Atari.  It should boot up as described under
           the "GAME STARTUP" section of the rules.  Enjoy the game!
           
       11) You can play multiple games without having to do this procedure
           before each game (read the rules section).  Remember to
           carefully disconnect the 3 clips from the serial cables when you
           are done playing for the day.
           
           
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    C) GameLink-II SIO Connections (2 or 3 nodes):
    
       The following directions give you some insight into how the GameLink
       II system works, and will allow you to create a more permanent
       connection for two or three player games.  They are provided for the
       more technical user who has sufficient experience to assemble a
       small hardware project.  Non-technical users who wish to buy a
       multi-node connection should skip to the next section.



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                                                           GameLink-II Docs



        1) The easiest way to construct a GameLink-II cable is to purchase
           a long (6 foot) SIO cable and cut it in half. 
           
        2) If more length is needed, the wires can be extended to around 6
           feet per node (thus, from one computer to any other would be a
           maximum of 12 feet). 
           
        3) The connections are made according to the following list:
           
           pin     name     connection   description
           ---   --------   ----------   -------------------------------
            1    SCLK       not used     leave with no connection
            2    OCLK       not used     leave with no connection
            3    SID        PARALLEL     connected to all other SID & SOD
            4    DGND       PARALLEL     connected to all other DGNDs
            5    SOD        PARALLEL     connected to all other SID & SOD
            6    CGND       PARALLEL     connected to all other CGNDs
            7    COMMAND    not used     leave with no connection
            8    MOTCTL     not used     leave with no connection
            9    PROCEED    not used     leave with no connection
           10    +5V        not used     leave with no connection
           11    AUDIO IN   not used     leave with no connection
           12    +12V/NC    not used     leave with no connection
           13    INTERRUPT  not used     leave with no connection
           
        4) Both grounds are connected between all systems.
           
        5) Both the SID (Serial Input), and SOD (Serial Output) lines are
           connected together from all nodes.  This allows any node to
           transmit data to all other nodes (including itself, if
           desired).
           
        6) A graphical representation of a 3 node GameLink-II network is
           shown below, with wires indicated by dashes (-) and vertical
           bars (|). Junctions shown by asterisks (*)
           












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                                                           GameLink-II Docs


                   Node-1          Node-2          Node-3
                   ------          ------          ------
                   
                    SID(3)          SID(3)          SID(3)
                     |               |               |
                     *---------------*---------------*
                     |               |               |
                    SOD(5)          SOD(5)          SOD(5)
                   
                   DGND(4)         DGND(4)         DGND(4)
                     |               |               |
                     *---------------*---------------*
                   
                   CGND(6)         CGND(6)         CGND(6)
                     |               |               |
                     *---------------*---------------*
                   
        7) Another method would be to buy SIO sockets, and mount them in a
           box, or PC board, and connect them as above.  This would allow
           you to use unmodified SIO cables.
           
        8) Vendors for the cables and/or connectors:
           
           a) MCM Electronics
              650 Congress Park Drive
              Dayton, OH  45459-9955
              (note: no longer stocks SIO sockets)
              
           b) BEST Electronics
              2121 The Alameda Suite 290
              San Jose, CA  95126-1127
              
           c) B&C ComputerVisions
              2730 Scott Boulevard
              Santa Clara, CA  95050
              
           d) American Techna-Vision
              15338 Inverness St.
              San Leandro, CA  94579
              
              
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    D) GameLink-II SIO Connections for More Than 3 Nodes:
    
        1) After a fair amount of beta testing and some head scratching, we
           discovered that an unmodified Atari's POKEY IC lacks the current
           sinking capability to provide reliable operation when more than
           3 8-bit computers are linked as described above.
           
        2) An active device (integrated circuit) must be added to provide
           the necessary current sinking capability.  Rather than include
           some complicated instructions, we plan to offer the following
           devices for sale to registered owners:
           



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                                                           GameLink-II Docs


           a) The OCTO-LINK, which consists of a circuit board,
              populated with the required integrated circuit and two SIO
              connectors.  Unpopulated sites will exist for the addition of
              up to six additional SIO connectors by the user (SIO
              connectors available from the vendors listed above).  This is
              ideal for user groups, where the club can purchase one of
              these for regular meetings.  Use of regular SIO cables
              completes the network.
              
           b) The DUO-LINK two-player expandable serial bus cable.  This
              consists of a circuit board with the necessary integrated
              circuit, and serial cable with two ends.  It can link two
              players together by itself.  By purchasing additional cables,
              pairs of players can be added.  The cables link at their
              middles to other cables with heavy duty Molex pins and
              connectors.  This arrangement allows 8-bitters to own their
              own GameLink-II modules, letting them plug together and play
              at any time without investing in the 8-player board.
              
        4) As you can imagine, AGDA is not a large commercial concern. 
           Previous to February 1, 1994 we will be monitoring our GEnie,
           CompuServe, Internet, and U.S. Mail addresses hoping for some
           response.  After that date we will order the necessary raw
           materials to create the first batch of the DUO-LINK and
           OCTO-LINK connectors. We will sell them to the registered
           shareware customers at a nominal fee to cover all expenses. 
           Keep in touch!
           
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
                                                                         
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