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Play2CPC

951 bytes added, 23 March
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Play2CPC is an evolution of the [[Plus2CPC]] adapter which includes new major features:
 <br> =Features=* Extra audio capabilities(Yamaha OPN3 soundchip)
* Sound mix into the CPC speaker or stereo audio jack
* Full [[Plus|Amstrad Plus]] ROM decoding
* Extra on-board V-ROM (512K RAM expansion mapped as ROM) for amazing new AAA games
* General purpose programmable raster interrupt
* Compatible with standard Amstrad cartridges and new extended formats
* Support for RW cartridges to save/update games, scores and settings
* Boot switch and reset button commodities
 
[[File:Play2cpc sticker.jpg]]
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=Compatibility=
===C4CPC: Compatible=== 
The C4CPC can already be used on the Plus2CPC and Play2CPC cartridge adapters.
The Plus2CPC and Play2CPC allow to program a compatible blank cartridge from the CPC. No USB plug needed.
==PlayCity=GX4000: Partially compatibleCompatible with cartridges but not the device===
Contrarily The Play2CPC is not usable on the GX4000 because the GX4000 does not have an expansion port. The device itself must be connected to a computer, but the cartridges you write can be later used on a GX4000. ===PlayCity: Partially compatible=== Unlike the [[PlayCity]], the Play2CPC is not equipped with a Z80 Counter Timer Circuit chip. The Play2CPC use the default configuration of most of the PlayCity programs, like ALCON 2020.
Sound capabilities are also quite different. The Play2CPC is equipped with an obscure soundchip, the OPN3 (ymf288) soundchip. It offers 3 PSG SSG chans, 6 FM 4-op chans and 6 digidrum chans.The PlayCity is instead equipped with 2 PSG SSG soundchips offering a total of 6 PSG SSG chans, but no FM and no digidrum chans.
So the few PlayCity programs using 9ch AY will be not replayed by the Play2CPC.
Also, programs using the FM and digidrums capabilities of the Play2CPC will not be replayed on the PlayCity.
==Dandanator: Not compatible==It is not compatibleHowever, because the CRTC cursor raster interruption mechanism is identical in PlayCity and Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games, while the [[Dandanator]] use Game Boy Advance cartridge with a custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy ports.
==GX4000=OPL3 soundchip: Compatible with cartridges but not the deviceNot compatible===The Play2CPC is not usable on the GX4000 because the GX4000 does not have an expansion port.
The device itself must be connected Despite having similar names, it's important to a computernote that the OPN3 soundchip is not compatible at all with the OPL3 soundchip (such as the one found in the [[Willy|Willy OPL3 soundcard]]). ===Dandanator: Not compatible=== It is not compatible, but because the cartridges you write can be later used on Play2CPC use Amstrad standard ROM paging and cartridge for new CPC games, while the [[Dandanator]] use Game Boy Advance cartridge with a GX4000custom ROM paging through Z80 opcodes for new Speccy ports. So, games like [http://theswordofianna.retroworks.es/ The Sword of Ianna] won't work on the Play2CPC.
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=Technical information=
You can use * Port &F988: read status 0 or select a page 0 register (for SSG, digidrums and the first 3 FM chans)* Port &F984: read status 1 or select a page 1 register (for the last 3 FM chans)* Port &F888: read/&F988 audio ports and write to the selected register You can also use the CRTC cursor registers to program the raster interruption ([[NMI]]) located at &0066. Both works on PlayCity  The OPN3 soundchip is a light version of the OPNA soundchip with some functionalities removed: no external ADPCM, no Composite Sine Mode and Play2CPCno GPIO.
The OPN3 chip is mostly a light version 6 digidrum instruments are included in the internal ROM of the OPNA chip with some functionalities removed: no external ADPCM, no CSM and no GPIOsoundchip.
Relevant datasheets: [[Media:YMF288.pdf|OPN3 (ymf288) (Japanese)]] and [[Media:YM2608J Translated.pdf|OPNA (ym2608) (English)]]
*https://abalore.com/play2cpc/
*[https://youtu.be/FJlKaRWNP9Ub Demonstration of Play2CPC using its FM sound chans]
*[[File:Megasound.zip]] The only available software at the moment that makes full use of the Play2CPC soundchip
[[Category:Music and sound]]
[[Category:Peripherals]]
[[Category:Hardware]]
[[Category:Cartridges]]
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