View source for Play2CPC

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

[[File:Play2cpc sticker.jpg]]

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=Features=
* Extra audio capabilities
* 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
* 100% compatible with [[C4CPC]]
* Support for RW cartridges to save/update games, scores and settings
* Boot switch and reset button commodities

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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: 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 OPN3 (ymf288) soundchip. It offers 3 PSG chans, 6 FM chans and 6 digidrum chans.
The PlayCity is equipped with 2 PSG soundchips offering a total of 6 PSG 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 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.

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=Flyer=
[[File:Play2c12.jpg]]

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=Technical information=
You can use the &F888/&F988 audio ports and the CRTC cursor registers to program the raster interruption located at &0066. Both work on PlayCity and Play2CPC.

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

Relevant datasheets: [[Media:YMF288.pdf|OPN3 (ymf288) (Japanese)]] and [[Media:YM2608J Translated.pdf|OPNA (ym2608) (English)]]

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= Links =
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_YM2608 Wikipedia article about the OPNA and OPN3 soundchips]
*[https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/play2cpc-plus2cpc-ii-extra-sound-channels-and-rewritable-cartridges/ Topic on CPCWiki forum]
*https://abalore.com/play2cpc/
*[https://youtu.be/FJlKaRWNP9Ub Demonstration of  Play2CPC using its FM sound chans]

[[Category:Music and sound]]
[[Category:Hardware]]