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start [2016/06/05 15:34]
ex_writer [The Better Bally Book]
start [2019/09/11 02:18] (current)
ex_writer [The Better Bally Book]
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 Welcome! ​ Welcome! ​
  
-The Better Bally Book (BBB) is a wiki dedicated to organizing, annotating, and improving ​the //​[[https://​archive.org/​details/​SoftwareAndHardwareForTheBallyArcadeATechnicalDescriptionDaveNuttingAssociates|Software and Hardware for the Bally Arcade]]//, a technical manual for the [[https://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Bally_Astrocade|Bally Home Computer/​Arcade/​Astrocade]] originally published in 1978 by Dave Nutting Associates. ​+The Better Bally Book (BBB) is a wiki dedicated to organizing, annotating, and improving //​[[https://​archive.org/​details/​SoftwareAndHardwareForTheBallyArcadeATechnicalDescriptionDaveNuttingAssociates|Software and Hardware for the Bally Arcade]]//, a technical manual for the [[https://​en.wikipedia.org/​wiki/​Bally_Astrocade|Bally Home Computer/​Arcade/​Astrocade]] originally published in 1978 by Dave Nutting Associates. ​
  
 This so-called '​Nutting Manual'​ is an invaluable source for programmers interested in developing new software for the Bally Arcade, but it is also a difficult resource to manage due to its inconsistent organization,​ lack of clear examples, and numerous omissions. ​ This so-called '​Nutting Manual'​ is an invaluable source for programmers interested in developing new software for the Bally Arcade, but it is also a difficult resource to manage due to its inconsistent organization,​ lack of clear examples, and numerous omissions. ​
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 ^ Bally Arcade ^^ ^ Bally Arcade ^^
 | [[http://​www.ballyalley.com|Bally Alley]] | Maintained by Adam Trionfo for over a decade, Bally Alley is the definitive archive for Bally Arcade history, documentation,​ photos, programs, advertisements,​ and more. The BBB wouldn'​t be possible without Adam's site. | | [[http://​www.ballyalley.com|Bally Alley]] | Maintained by Adam Trionfo for over a decade, Bally Alley is the definitive archive for Bally Arcade history, documentation,​ photos, programs, advertisements,​ and more. The BBB wouldn'​t be possible without Adam's site. |
-| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​basic/​bally_on-board_rom_subroutines.pdf|Bally On-Board ROM Subroutines]] | Documentation of all of the Bally Arcade'​s system routines, with more verbose descriptions than those found in the Nutting Manual. Originally published in the //Cursor// newsletter in 1980. | +| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​basic/​bally_on-board_rom_subroutines.pdf|Bally On-Board ROM Subroutines]] | Documentation of all of the Bally Arcade'​s system routines, with more verbose descriptions than those found in the Nutting Manual. Originally published in the //Cursor// newsletter in 1980. [PDF] 
-| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​ml/​ml_docs/​vector%20tutorial/​BallyVectorTutorial_(Ver_1.03)(Lance_Squire).pdf|Bally / Astrocade Vector Animation Tutorial]] | Lance F. Squire'​s indispensable guide to pattern writing and vector movement. Covers important details that the Nutting Manual omits. | +| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​ml/​ml_docs/​vector%20tutorial/​BallyVectorTutorial_(Ver_1.03)(Lance_Squire).pdf|Bally / Astrocade Vector Animation Tutorial]] | Lance F. Squire'​s indispensable guide to pattern writing and vector movement. Covers important details that the Nutting Manual omits. ​[PDF] 
-| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​ml/​ml_docs/​Bit%20Fiddler/​Bit%20Fiddler'​s%20Corner%20%281983%29%28Andy%20Guevara%29.pdf|Astrocade Machine Language Programming Tutorial]] | A compilation of articles from "The Bit Fiddler'​s Corner,"​ written by Andy Guevara and originally published in the //​Arcadian//​ between 1983–84. A great start for those who are new to both the Bally Arcade and Z80 assembly programming. | +| [[http://​www.ballyalley.com/​ml/​ml_docs/​Bit%20Fiddler/​Bit%20Fiddler'​s%20Corner%20%281983%29%28Andy%20Guevara%29.pdf|Astrocade Machine Language Programming Tutorial]] | A compilation of articles from "The Bit Fiddler'​s Corner,"​ written by Andy Guevara and originally published in the //​Arcadian//​ between 1983–84. A great start for those who are new to both the Bally Arcade and Z80 assembly programming. ​[PDF] 
-| [[http://​archive.kontek.net/​ballyalley.classicgaming.gamespy.com/​misc_docs/​bally_service_manual.pdf|Bally Arcade Service Manual]] | The Service Manual outlines the Bally Arcade'​s basic functions, technical specifications,​ parts, and circuit layout.|+| [[http://​archive.kontek.net/​ballyalley.classicgaming.gamespy.com/​misc_docs/​bally_service_manual.pdf|Bally Arcade Service Manual]] | The Service Manual outlines the Bally Arcade'​s basic functions, technical specifications,​ parts, and circuit layout. ​[PDF] |
 | [[http://​www.glankonian.com/​~lance/​Ballyfaq.html|The Bally / Astrocade FAQ]] | Lance F. Squire'​s online FAQ outlining the console'​s history, specifications,​ cartridges, etc. | | [[http://​www.glankonian.com/​~lance/​Ballyfaq.html|The Bally / Astrocade FAQ]] | Lance F. Squire'​s online FAQ outlining the console'​s history, specifications,​ cartridges, etc. |
  
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 |[[http://​sites.fas.harvard.edu/​~cscie287/​spring2016/​slides/​Zilog%20Z80%20Family%20CPU%20User%20Manual%20z80cpu_um.pdf|Z80 Family CPU User Manual]] | Zilog'​s official documentation for the Z80 CPU. Clear and comprehensive. [PDF] | |[[http://​sites.fas.harvard.edu/​~cscie287/​spring2016/​slides/​Zilog%20Z80%20Family%20CPU%20User%20Manual%20z80cpu_um.pdf|Z80 Family CPU User Manual]] | Zilog'​s official documentation for the Z80 CPU. Clear and comprehensive. [PDF] |
 | [[http://​www.z80.info/​zip/​z80-documented.pdf|The Undocumented Z80 Documented]] | Sean Young'​s deep dive into the Z80's inner workings. [PDF] | | [[http://​www.z80.info/​zip/​z80-documented.pdf|The Undocumented Z80 Documented]] | Sean Young'​s deep dive into the Z80's inner workings. [PDF] |
 +| [[http://​t.eeems.ca/​Z80ASM/​index.htm|Z80 Assembly]] | One of the best Z80 guides online, especially for beginners. |
 ===== Credits ===== ===== Credits =====
 //Software and Hardware for the Bally Arcade: A Technical Description//​ \\ //Software and Hardware for the Bally Arcade: A Technical Description//​ \\