Super Sprint! for Altair-Duino with Dazzler

[John Galt]

I made a little Dazzler game this week based on the driving game Sprint Two and Turbo Sprint! for 2 human Players, 4 tracks, sound effects. you can find it on my github

https://github.com/johngalt01/Cromemco-Dazzler-games-and-demos

[John Kennedy]

haha that's amazing. I'll be trying that out.

[Paul Hatchman]

So Cool!!

[John Galt]

just some quick fun i put it on a diskette like it might have been back in the day.

kids are having fun playing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep5xCBBurWI

[Antonio Tamairón]

Hi.

These are very funny. I'd like to play these in my Altair 8800 simulator. I'm using a Dazzler Windows Client but I don't know how can I put these files into a .DSK, because Altair 8800 simulator only support for MITS Disk, 16 disks called DISKxx.DSK.

How can I create a new .DKS? What format has the DSK filesystem? How can I copy files to insert in DSK file?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards.

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Antonio Tamairón

[Walt Perko]

Hi,  

I made a few DZMBASIC DAZZLER .DSKs and they work on my Altair-Duino Pro as well as my ZAltair Z80c and Oak ZAltair Z80c computers (essentially Z80 CPUs in homebrew Oak cabinets ... hardware is like an Altair 8800c computer)  

https://www.brainless.org/Altair/

Goto the DAZZLER section of this page:  http://www.brainless.org/Altair/Repository.html    to find the .dsk's 

.

[Paul Hatchman]

You can try my software, which will create and copy to/from altair format disks.

https://github.com/phatchman/altair_tools

[John Galt]

I can post a DSK version of the game if people want one, however i have found most people do not like the files setup on a disk format they would rather have them loose.

You can use PCGET to transfer any file from your modern computer to the Altair-duino.

almost all the bootable DSK images come with PCPUT and PCGET tools. 

using PCGET or PCPUT is dependent on your setup, how you have mapped your serial ports.

if your setup to use your 9 pin port on the rear and you want to transfer files from your desktop to Altair

you would use : PCGET XXXX.COM B this tells it your going to Xmodem transfer the file on 2SIO port B

if you want to send a file back you would say PCPUT XXXX.COM B

on your desktop you would use a putty or teraterm program to setup a terminal with XMODEM support you would transfer the file via your terminal client using PCPUT OR PCGET and that would copy the file into your existing Disk volumn

you can use the altair_tools with the new GUI above to transfer files as well. the two methods would be either pull out your micro SD card and copy the new disk on to it and edit your Disk information file."diskdir.txt" files to show the new disk information or you can update the new DSK image via Xmodem file transfer which is similar to using PCPUT/PCGET above, the easiest is simply using the pcget and pcput tools.

[John Galt]

when using the windows dazzler client.. the game requires at least 1 joystick with 4 way joystick and 4 button support. 

some versions of the dazzler client also do not support sound, the game has sound effects. it depends on what your system likes as there is an older dazzler client that seems to work better on most machines but does not support sound.

the newer version people have more issues with and it may not work at all but it does support sound.

the older TRON game (which will be updated in a few weeks) also supports sound.

you can also use my PIANO application which is all sound to test your dazzler clients sound support.

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

A couple of other guys and I write our DAZZLER programs so that they can be controlled by keyboard.  Joysticks are cumbersome and everybody even with real DAZZLERs need to build joysticks.  

OTOH, everybody already has a keyboard for their computer.  

.

[Paul Hatchman]

If you are feeling adventurous, I have a low-cost raspberry pi-pico version of the DAZZLER that lets you use most(?) USB joysticks. It only outputs in VGA though.

phatchman/pico_dazzler: Dazzler graphics Altair Duino / Altair Simulator using Raspberry Pi Pico

[Antonio Tamairón]

How do you do those DSK files? And now How do you load this DSK.(Called different to DISKxx.DSK) on Altair simulator?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/altair-duino/7141c208-1808-4ec4-9127-407bb7292e55n%40googlegroups.com.

[John Galt]

there are many different Altair emulators.

if you are using the Adwaterandstir Altair-duino then you should consult the manual.

you can access mounting and unmounting new Disks from the Configuration menu or through the front panel.

Either you have to copy the new DSK image to the SD card or use the configuration menu File management menu to upload a new DSK image via XMODEM file transfer to the SD card.

you would also need to have Dazzler support enabled in your firmware to be able to access either the hardware dazzler or the software dazzler via the dazzler client.

that would require a recompile of your emulator and upload of new firmware.

[Antonio Tamairón]

Yes.

I have a David Hansel, Altair 8800 simulator version DIY. I set dazzler in config.h and all work fine but my question is. How can I create a MITS Cromemco disk .DSK file? What is the filesystem that .DSK uses? I try it using CPMTOOLS with apple-do filesystem but I don't achieve that disk works.

Regards.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/altair-duino/1744ccf5-c09f-432e-830d-f582c575bf6fn%40googlegroups.com.

[Patrick Linstruth]

The “.DSK” extension means different things to different people. Generally, in the Altair simulator (hardware or software) world, a DSK image contains just the raw data payload and none of the media/format information. This is in contrast to something like an IMD file that contains information about the physical layout of the disk and format information.

For a soft sectored disk, like the 77 tracks with 26 128-byte sectors IBM format, bytes 0-127 of the DSK image contains the 128 bytes of data for Track 0, Sector 1. The next 128 bytes contains the data for Track 0, Sector 2, etc.

Note: Tracks usually start at 0 while sectors often start at 1.

The Altair 88-DCDD disk controller is different because it uses hard sector media. It doesn’t have a “format” in the same sense as soft sector. Those hard sector DSK images have 137-byte sectors that contain all of the track/sector, CRC, and other information in addition to the data payload. It isn’t a “standard” format. It’s a layout that MITS created for their disks. I guess it could be called the MITS hard sector format. This is the reason these DSK images typically don’t work with programs like CPMTOOLS as those tools are designed around soft sector formats and DSK images.

The easiest why to get files to/from an Altair DSK image is to use PCGET/PUT, attach the DSK images to a simulator that supports file transfers between the host and CP/M (AltairZ80, Altair8800, Z80Pack), or some of the new utilities that have been posted here.

I spend a lot of time in the Altair SIMH simulators, so that’s the method I use to copy files to/from Altair DSK images.

It’s what I’m used to and I rarely want to copy files without assembling, testing, or running them, so the simulator makes sense and there isn’t a lot of moving SD cards around.

There are quite a few good options. Try them and use what works best for you.

Here is how the Altair DSK images are laid out (Appendix H):

https://deramp.com/downloads/mfe_archive/010-S100%20Computers%20and%20Boards/00-MITS/40-Software/BASIC/Altair%20BASIC%204.0/Documentation/BASIC%20Manual%2077%20searchable.pdf

https://deramp.com/downloads/mfe_archive/010-S100%20Computers%20and%20Boards/00-MITS/30-Disk%20Storage%20Devices/Disk%20Layout.pdf

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/altair-duino/CANraTR_FRMPKqaD%2Boxhcg0ZrLOgPnWhbXdod6Ch5HzpqEDwfng%40mail.gmail.com.

[Antonio Tamairón]

Thank you so much.

El sáb, 16 may 2026 2:23, John Galt <furba...@gmail.com> escribió:

here is a disk image.

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[John Galt]

i put the SPRINT disk on my github

https://github.com/johngalt01/Cromemco-Dazzler-games-and-demos

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

If you're going to write new programs, can't you include keyboard controls for those that do not have joysticks?  

All the programs I've written for the DAZZLER can use keyboard control.  

.

[Altair Computer]

No, because the Interrupt required for keyboard polling is too slow.

The dazzler joysticks can transfer all 8 positions as a single byte.

Allowing for fast input processing. 

Besides the interrupt for the keyboard being very slow you would have to wait each loop to capture 

A single character from the keyboard. In testing the keyboard caused too many issues and was better to treat it as a game console with joystick input only.

It’s 2mhz and very slow already. 

[John Galt]

I forgot to upload an updated SPRINT.DSK on my github its a cleaned up stand alone with autorun so it boots right into the game on power up.

finally got around to it.

https://github.com/johngalt01/Cromemco-Dazzler-games-and-demos

[Antonio Tamairón]

Hello John.

Could you also add small instructions about how to load sprint.dsk with Altair?

Thanks in advance.

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[Antonio Tamairón]

Altair simulator I meant.

[John Galt]

There are a few Altair emulators.

keeping it to the Altair-Duino.

----------------------------------------------

Putting SPRINT.DSK on your SD card:

==============================

You can copy the DSK file to your SD card, rename it to match the other 330KB disks. you can also use Xmodem to upload a new DSK to the SD card.

you may want to update the disk TXT files on your SD card to incorporate the new SPRINT.DSK 

there is also the option of Xmodem transfer of SPRINT.COM along with the required support files via PCGET to an existing Disk or hard drive image.

running the program:

=================

As far as i know the current Firmware does not have Dazzler support enabled.

You will need to follow the directions on the Adwater website that will allow you to recompile the Arduino Due firmware and upload a new version for your Altair-duino Emulator.

besides dazzler support you will need to enable Z80 CPU support. while your in there i would recommend enabling additional options and support for future expansion but not required.

SPRINT requires the emulator to have 64KB, Dazzler and Z80 CPU enabled.

Future:

=====

I will be releasing future software that will require I/O Bus support 

using the RTC and Speech Processor.

---------

Firmware Issues:

=============

You can't enable everything do to memory restrictions so you may have to aim where you want your system to go. Nobody can tell you how to setup your system so it is up to you.

enabling a great many of the disabled options in the firmware may require you to play around with optimization to get everything you want to fit into existing DUE memory.

you will have to pick and choose Disk options to disabled to allow space for other options.

i could post a firmware but many people get angry because it isn't how they would do it. then it leads to endless arguements.

[John Kennedy]

I have ALMOST gotten Sprint working on my S-100 emulator.

When I start the game, the cars always just go in a counterclockwise circle when I joystick left or right.

Could I ask what ports you read for left/right, and what values you expect?

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john

[John Galt]

its the standard JS-1 for the dazzler

here is the manual:

https://deramp.com/downloads/mfe_archive/010-S100%20Computers%20and%20Boards/00-Cromemco/30-Non-Disk%20IO%20Devices/JS-1%20Joystick/Cromemco%20JS-1%20Joystick%20Manual.pdf

the scale is one byte 0 to 255 for the joysticks, using signed 0 is center, 1-127 is one direction 128 - 255 is the other.  i have left and right flipped in different games i created. 

the buttons are expressed in one byte as well 

Least sig bit is Joystick 1, bit 1,2,4,8 is joystick one 1,2,3,4

most sig bit is joystick 2, but 16,32,64,128, is joystick two 1,2,3,4

[John Galt]

I forgot if you unplug a joystick on the dazzler then you have the same thing occur the cars will turn left endlessly.

[John Kennedy]

Thanks! It's working now with your SPRINT.DSK

https://grantmestrength.github.io/S100/

Just load up the preset Altair 8800 with the Dazzler instead, add SPRINT.DSK as disk b: (or even a: if you prefer) and it runs!

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/altair-duino/f568537c-497e-4e1c-a84f-7dd5248acdaan%40googlegroups.com.

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john

[John Galt]

Enjoy, the grandkids had fun with it.

i originally made the cars much faster but it caused too many control issues for the kids so i slowed them down so they could react better. 
i basically packed the memory having all 4 tracks, in the future i may revisit and break down the tracks into separate programs.

that will allow more room to speed up the cars again, add more realistic drifting to the main algorithm and i can add a heatmap for a A.I. Racer mode instead of just being 2 human players.

i put this together in one afternoon with the kids cheering me on :-)

then i put it on a floppy for them and made it look like a commercial product from back in the day on its own self loading floppy disk.

next on the list is revamping my Tron cycle game into a more complete game.

i have plans for some modem multi play as well. just have not found the time to sit down and program.

[John Kennedy]

Just for fun.. I tried creating a space invaders game for the Dazzler. Works on the emulator, but I've not tried on the real hardware yet. Feel free to try!

https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/S100/blob/main/games/STARDUST.COM

There's a very good chance it won't do a thing.

[John Galt]

the opening screen i guess kind of loads, then the game starts the second a projectile hits an alien it just crashes and freezes the screen.

[Walt Perko]

Hi,  

I tried it on a real Cromemco DAZZLER board set from CP/M 2.2b:  

A2>stardust

Bad load
A2>

.

[John Kennedy]

Thanks for trying. I think I fixed the crashing bug, John.

As for the "bad load", maybe the file was copied over in a way that introduced corruption. p.s. The game requires a Z80 and 64Kb RAM.

[Walt Perko]

Hi, 

I downloaded STARDUST … twice now and I'm still getting the ... 2nd try just in the last 5-minutes ...   

A2>STARDUST

Bad load
A2>

No reason to try Super Sprint since I don’t have joysticks on my computers. 

.

[Walt Perko]

Hi,   

Okay, I goto the Github page ... I see the STARDUST.COM but it doesn't download from there ... so I drop back one to "games", right-click and save the game to my Windows PC ... but I'm getting a giant file that doesn't work.  

Somebody else sent the game to me in email ... that comes up with a green/orange "spaceship?" in the center of the scren a couple of dots and a longer orange line about 40pixels below the spaceship.  

I don't have joysticks on my ZAltair Z80c computer with a real pair of DAZZLER boards ... so I tried a few keys, but the game doesn't move.  

IF you want people to play the games, they need to have keyboard controls like 

789

456

123

spacebar

.

On Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 7:58:50 PM UTC-7 johntk...@gmail.com wrote:

[John Galt]

when downloading from github make sure you click the 'View Raw' button 
That will allow you to download as binary.

github is dumb.

I have not downloaded the newest version yet, i'll give it a try tonight.

[John Kennedy]

There are keyboard shortcuts for the joystick on the emulator. But as previously discussed, keyboard alternatives for the joystick on a real device is not always practical.

[John Galt]

yup you fixed it plays great :D

died got the red X :D

[John Galt]

i would say change the fire to button 2 and make button 1 exit back to cp/m

[John Kennedy]

Done!

[John Kennedy]

Also a Pacman game - https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/S100/blob/main/games/MAZECHASE.COM

[John Galt]

feedback on the pacman game the joystick up and down is inverted.

[John Galt]

if you want you can see a demo program i wrote a few years ago implementing sprites.

https://github.com/johngalt01/Cromemco-Dazzler-games-and-demos

Paku64 is the 64x64 color version

and 

paku128 is the 128x128 mono version.

neither are games just a demo i made to play around with the dazzler.

you can play with my Piano also if you want to try and mess with dazzler sounds.

[John Kennedy]

Thanks! I'll definitely check it out.

I think I've fixed the maze game joystick, or maybe made it worse - one or the other! I need to get my joysticks working on my actual Dazzler (well, the modern recreation from https://www.s100computers.com)

Wait - I've joysticks for the IMSAI 8080 recreation from The High Nibble. I'll look those out.

And in the meantime, Missile Command! https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/S100/blob/main/games/MISSILE.COM

[John Galt]

missile seems to work a little more correctly after you die and it resets.

something is not being setup on game launch

mazechase is working better now you need the ghost chase logic.

[John Galt]

i updated all 3 to the latest version from github.

i forgot to update stardust yesterday.

[John Galt]

breakout should be an easy addition as well.

[John Kennedy]

or even.. Asteroids?

https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/S100/blob/main/games/ASTEROIDSHI.COM

and a low-resolution one too if that doesn't work on real hardware:

https://github.com/GrantMeStrength/S100/blob/main/games/ASTEROIDS.COM