Play2CPC

Play2CPC is an evolution of the Plus2CPC adapter which includes new major features.

Features

• Extra audio capabilities (Yamaha OPN3 soundchip)
• Sound mix into the CPC speaker or stereo audio jack
• Full 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
• 100% compatible with C4CPC
• Support for RW cartridges to save/update games, scores and settings
• Boot switch and reset button commodities

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: Partially compatible

Contrarily to 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). It offers 3 SSG chans, 6 FM 4-op chans and 6 digidrum chans. The PlayCity is equipped with 2 SSG soundchips offering a total of 6 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.

However, the CRTC cursor raster interruption mechanism is identical in PlayCity and Play2CPC.

Dandanator: Not compatible

It is not compatible, because the 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: Compatible with cartridges but not the device

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.

Flyer

Technical information

• 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/write to the selected register

You can also use the CRTC cursor registers to program the raster interruption (NMI) located at &0066.

The OPN3 soundchip is a light version of the OPNA soundchip with some functionalities removed: no external ADPCM, no Composite Sine Mode and no GPIO.

6 digidrum instruments are included in the internal ROM of the soundchip.

Relevant datasheets: OPN3 (ymf288) (Japanese) and OPNA (ym2608) (English)

Despite having similar names, it's important to note that the OPN3 soundchip is not compatible at all with the OPL3 soundchip (such as the one found in the Willy OPL3 soundcard).

Links

• Wikipedia article about the OPNA and OPN3 soundchips
• Topic on CPCWiki forum
• https://abalore.com/play2cpc/
• 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