Martin Piper
@martinpiper.bsky.social
Commodore 64, Electronics, Software, Pizza
https://www.youtube.com/@MartinPiper6502
https://itch.io/profile/martin-piper
https://www.youtube.com/@MartinPiper6502
https://itch.io/profile/martin-piper
Pinned
Martin Piper
@martinpiper.bsky.social
· Apr 9
This page has up to date links for my retro projects and social media accounts and how to access them: github.com/martinpiper/...
I look at #Amiga "Shadow of the Beast" published in 1989 by Psygnosis, developed by Reflections. How it uses dual playfields, hardware sprites, blitter objects, and the screen scrolling.
This is a new series, let me know if you like this or not. :)
youtu.be/V1APacXhoJI
This is a new series, let me know if you like this or not. :)
youtu.be/V1APacXhoJI
Amiga memories - Shadow of the Beast
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 4:27 AM
I look at #Amiga "Shadow of the Beast" published in 1989 by Psygnosis, developed by Reflections. How it uses dual playfields, hardware sprites, blitter objects, and the screen scrolling.
This is a new series, let me know if you like this or not. :)
youtu.be/V1APacXhoJI
This is a new series, let me know if you like this or not. :)
youtu.be/V1APacXhoJI
I look at #Commodore64 demo "The Hat" by Fairlight and Genesis Project, specifically the part with the "14 balloon sprites" in a row and its "hires" scrolling border message.
youtu.be/DyteWLEPKzE
youtu.be/DyteWLEPKzE
C64 Demos peek - The Hat - Up, Up, and Away! - The balloons part
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
February 2, 2026 at 4:42 AM
I look at #Commodore64 demo "The Hat" by Fairlight and Genesis Project, specifically the part with the "14 balloon sprites" in a row and its "hires" scrolling border message.
youtu.be/DyteWLEPKzE
youtu.be/DyteWLEPKzE
I look at Commodore 64 "3D Construction kit" and "Driller", using the Freescape engine. The rendering uses a linear flipped buffer before converting to a VIC bitmap format.
youtu.be/aXMpQiw2kP0
youtu.be/aXMpQiw2kP0
C64 Memories - Freescape games rendering
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
February 1, 2026 at 2:55 PM
I look at Commodore 64 "3D Construction kit" and "Driller", using the Freescape engine. The rendering uses a linear flipped buffer before converting to a VIC bitmap format.
youtu.be/aXMpQiw2kP0
youtu.be/aXMpQiw2kP0
When you code stuff, what do you think?
I realised years ago when I am thinking about something to code (or electronics) then I visualise in my mind's eye the structure an large complex interconnected shapes, that move, have colours, and are attached to certain emotions.
I realised years ago when I am thinking about something to code (or electronics) then I visualise in my mind's eye the structure an large complex interconnected shapes, that move, have colours, and are attached to certain emotions.
January 31, 2026 at 4:06 PM
When you code stuff, what do you think?
I realised years ago when I am thinking about something to code (or electronics) then I visualise in my mind's eye the structure an large complex interconnected shapes, that move, have colours, and are attached to certain emotions.
I realised years ago when I am thinking about something to code (or electronics) then I visualise in my mind's eye the structure an large complex interconnected shapes, that move, have colours, and are attached to certain emotions.
I look at #Commodore64 "Beer Rescue" published in 2025 by TSA Society. Retro style game, with good use of hires and multicolour, level cheat and sprite collision, and a hidden (recovered) file.
youtu.be/ZJiEGwJKf7E
youtu.be/ZJiEGwJKf7E
C64 Games - Beer Rescue
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 24, 2026 at 5:56 AM
I look at #Commodore64 "Beer Rescue" published in 2025 by TSA Society. Retro style game, with good use of hires and multicolour, level cheat and sprite collision, and a hidden (recovered) file.
youtu.be/ZJiEGwJKf7E
youtu.be/ZJiEGwJKf7E
This is a sad day @killedbygoogle.com
January 22, 2026 at 11:20 PM
This is a sad day @killedbygoogle.com
Next #C64MegaCart PCB and case production run has started...
January 21, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Next #C64MegaCart PCB and case production run has started...
#C64MegaCart support is now in Vice version 3.1, the Win32 EXE and source changes are here: github.com/martinpiper/...
January 19, 2026 at 2:07 PM
#C64MegaCart support is now in Vice version 3.1, the Win32 EXE and source changes are here: github.com/martinpiper/...
Warning, very technical: I look at Commodore 64 "Last Ninja 3" published in 1991 by System 3, the bitmap dissolve, and document the map data format. Lots of reverse engineering in here. Beware it is filled with code!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLGF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLGF...
C64 Coding - Last Ninja 3 - Dissolve and Map Draw - Very technical
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Warning, very technical: I look at Commodore 64 "Last Ninja 3" published in 1991 by System 3, the bitmap dissolve, and document the map data format. Lots of reverse engineering in here. Beware it is filled with code!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLGF...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLGF...
#Electronics fam, I'm looking for a replacement 3-colour LED driver with these specs... Any idea?
January 15, 2026 at 9:54 AM
#Electronics fam, I'm looking for a replacement 3-colour LED driver with these specs... Any idea?
#C64Utlimate user port digital filter, probably the smallest ever PCB I've ordered from @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social ... :)
January 15, 2026 at 9:50 AM
#C64Utlimate user port digital filter, probably the smallest ever PCB I've ordered from @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social ... :)
I look at #Commodore64 "Last Ninja 3" published in 1991 by System 3, the animated intro, and how the map and objects are drawn.
youtu.be/CQhq0jLEQKY
youtu.be/CQhq0jLEQKY
C64 Games memories - Last Ninja 3
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 14, 2026 at 4:43 PM
I look at #Commodore64 "Last Ninja 3" published in 1991 by System 3, the animated intro, and how the map and objects are drawn.
youtu.be/CQhq0jLEQKY
youtu.be/CQhq0jLEQKY
Because some comments said there wasn't enough time to add extra sprites, I filled the vertical screen with sprites that update their position every line, and added music... The #C64Ultimate really does have a lot of CPU time...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUd...
C64Ultimate Mega Squishy Spritey Multicolour Mode
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
www.youtube.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Because some comments said there wasn't enough time to add extra sprites, I filled the vertical screen with sprites that update their position every line, and added music... The #C64Ultimate really does have a lot of CPU time...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUd...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWUd...
I added extra parallax and squishy effects to the new Mega Multicolour Mode for the #C64Ultimate. This is to show there is ample time for lots of extra stuff with this screen mode.
youtu.be/dQv_epsBdgk
youtu.be/dQv_epsBdgk
C64Ultimate Mega Squishy Multicolour Mode
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 3:50 AM
I added extra parallax and squishy effects to the new Mega Multicolour Mode for the #C64Ultimate. This is to show there is ample time for lots of extra stuff with this screen mode.
youtu.be/dQv_epsBdgk
youtu.be/dQv_epsBdgk
This is a demo of a new Mega Multicolour Mode for the #C64Ultimate. This allows any multicolour pixels anywhere on the screen, no colour restrictions, with another screen (hires/multicolour/bitmap) in front, and with sprites active. I think this has not been seen before.
youtu.be/lnbQw3t1qFA
youtu.be/lnbQw3t1qFA
C64Ultimate - Mega Multicolour Mode
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 12:44 PM
This is a demo of a new Mega Multicolour Mode for the #C64Ultimate. This allows any multicolour pixels anywhere on the screen, no colour restrictions, with another screen (hires/multicolour/bitmap) in front, and with sprites active. I think this has not been seen before.
youtu.be/lnbQw3t1qFA
youtu.be/lnbQw3t1qFA
I have something cooking...
January 8, 2026 at 10:26 AM
I have something cooking...
I run a few tests with my #C64Ultimate at 64MHz, software video decompression and easily opening the side borders without any of the usual cycle accurate stable IRQ/timer stuff that is usually needed.
youtu.be/2DjhBKUyuoo
youtu.be/2DjhBKUyuoo
C64Ultimate - Video decompression and easy side borders
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 7, 2026 at 12:53 PM
I run a few tests with my #C64Ultimate at 64MHz, software video decompression and easily opening the side borders without any of the usual cycle accurate stable IRQ/timer stuff that is usually needed.
youtu.be/2DjhBKUyuoo
youtu.be/2DjhBKUyuoo
I look at #Commodore64 "Gee Bee Air Rally" released by Activision in 1987. This game surprised me by using multicolour bitmap software sprites as well as hardware sprites to allow rendering large sprites in the same horizontal band.
youtu.be/my8D9vJ-xxk
youtu.be/my8D9vJ-xxk
C64 Games memories - Gee Bee Air Rally
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 8:18 AM
I look at #Commodore64 "Gee Bee Air Rally" released by Activision in 1987. This game surprised me by using multicolour bitmap software sprites as well as hardware sprites to allow rendering large sprites in the same horizontal band.
youtu.be/my8D9vJ-xxk
youtu.be/my8D9vJ-xxk
When you forget to add a wait for vsync in your video playback code...
January 1, 2026 at 7:47 AM
When you forget to add a wait for vsync in your video playback code...
This shows an optimised 3D test on my new #Commodore64Ultimate machine, running at 64MHz. Full source code and the PRG file are linked in the video description. The optimisation is run from RAM, not cartridge ROM. It's a lot faster than the stock C64 now.
youtu.be/_TFLTdHAD4Q
youtu.be/_TFLTdHAD4Q
C64 coding - C64Ultimate Huge 3D speed improvement at 64MHz
YouTube video by Martin Piper's mostly Commodore related memories
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 6:22 AM
This shows an optimised 3D test on my new #Commodore64Ultimate machine, running at 64MHz. Full source code and the PRG file are linked in the video description. The optimisation is run from RAM, not cartridge ROM. It's a lot faster than the stock C64 now.
youtu.be/_TFLTdHAD4Q
youtu.be/_TFLTdHAD4Q
Today I've been running a lot of old code and projects on the #Commodore64Ultimate in 64MHz mode. Games like Footy with sampled audio and full screen scrolling is really possible. All of the other stuff that uses sprite multiplexing and full colour scrolling is instantly smooth.
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Today I've been running a lot of old code and projects on the #Commodore64Ultimate in 64MHz mode. Games like Footy with sampled audio and full screen scrolling is really possible. All of the other stuff that uses sprite multiplexing and full colour scrolling is instantly smooth.
Hunting in my parts box for a couple of 74LS32 through hole.
December 30, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Hunting in my parts box for a couple of 74LS32 through hole.