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start [2016/06/05 15:34] 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// \\ |