Home computer remake
A home computer remake is a re-creation or re-implementation of classic home computer hardware, usually using updated technology, such as FPGAs.
Description
A remake is a hardware realization, in contrast to an emulator, which is a virtual realization. A remake can also be described as a hardware-based emulator. Some re-makes can function as more than one computer model or architecture. Disputed examples of hardware emulators (which could involve software emulators) are more recent Sega Genesis/Megadrive clones that are cartridge-compatible and can run the games, but use ARM processors as opposed to the Motorola 68k processors of the original Sega Genesis.
Remakes and emulators are a way to keep old software, games, and operating systems alive without having to port them to newer computers or code them again from scratch. Remakes and emulators are methods of digital preservation.
Remakes are not to be confused with hardware clones. Hardware clones are made during a product's initial commercial run, intentionally competing with the original. Remakes are revivals of old, obsolete, or discontinued models. They fill a niche market for retrocomputing researchers, experimenters, hobbyists, gamers, and collectors. Demand for authentic antique hardware often exceeds supply.
Examples
Examples of home computer remakes include:
- Multiple Classic Computer (MCC), (e.g. C64 and Amiga) remake, implemented as handheld TV games.
- Minimig and Natami, Amiga remakes
- MIST, an open FPGA based implementation of Atari ST and Amiga inspired by Minimig and intended to have a low price
- Altair 8800 Micro, a remake of the early personal computer, Altair 8800.
- Replica 1, an Apple I remake
- Atari Coldfire and Experiment-s, Atari ST remakes
- C-One, Originally a Commodore 64 remake but now also supporting Amstrad CPC and Amiga 500
- Chameleon, Originally a Commodore 64 expansion with VGA output, it now also supports standalone operation and additional cores such as Amiga 500, Sinclair Spectrum, Atari 2600.
- C64 Direct-to-TV, a Commodore 64 remake built inside a joystick
- GR8BIT a do it yourself MSX2 computer.
- Sprinter, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum remake.
- N8VEM home brew single board Z80 small computer.
- Radica Games Limited under its Play TV collection remade the Sega Genesis as a handheld TV game
- Micro-KIM a 6502 Single Board Computer (SBC). The KIM-1 is not really a home computer, but was often used as a basis for such.
- Acorn Atom in an FPGA, much expanded.
- Membership Card, a COSMAC ELF remake.
Remakes of early minicomputer and supercomputers have been also made:
- Several experimenters have re-implemented the PDP-8 using FPGAs:
- FPGA Implementation of supercomputer CRAY 1a