CHIP-8, VIPER, Cosmac VIP

[MattMik]

Hello!

I'm currently attempting to acquire more information on the CHIP-8 programming language, an interpreted hexadecimal language used to program video games. It was commonly used on the COSMAC VIP and the COSMAC ELF systems.

In particular, I am looking to acquire issues of VIPER magazine (a black and white newsletter focused on the VIP), the books "PIPs for VIPs" and its sequel by Tom Swan, and any documentation and information on the color card and sound card enhancements for the VIP, along with CHIP-8C and the sound-capable enhancement for CHIP-8.

Also, I am looking for any information on the following people.
Terry Laudereau (editor of VIPER, gradually started going blind)
Tom Swan
Jack Wright
J.W. Wentworth

Thank you!
~Matt Mikolay

[Konata]

Can someone help this guy? It sounds kinda interesting.

[extrarice]

Agreed, this sounds really interesting. Interpreted hex would be tough to program in. I'd love to see some examples of code in this language.

[MattMik]

CHIP-8's a really popular language for people looking to get into emulator programming. It's setup like a computer is (registers, memory access, etc.). Along the way, someone wrote an English syntax for CHIP-8, but the original copy by Joseph Weisbecker was purely a hexadecimal language.

Here's an example of a program:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn158/MattMikolay/CHIP-8/WeisbeckerRocket.jpg
This is the code for a Space Invaders-like game with a rocket and a single UFO that floats across the screen.

That's actually a scan from an article written by CHIP-8's creator (Weisbecker) for BYTE Magazine during 1978. Sometime in the future, I plan to post all of my findings online, including the whole article.

Pseudocode is shown in that article, but CHIP-8 instructions were written directly to the Cosmac VIP's memory. An interpreter would then read the memory addresses and react.

There's even a Wikipedia page for CHIP-8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIP-8). Bear in mind that during my research, I've noticed that not all of that information, specifically the opcodes, is correct. That page has been very helpful, though.

Just so everybody knows, an issue of VIPER is available online at http://www.xmission.com/~a_naef/cosmac/viper2.html. I've also managed to get some more information on Tom Swan, thanks to a helpful owner of a COSMAC VIP. Swan was last heard of in Oaxaca, Mexico.

I'm really determined to find out more about the color and sound variations of CHIP-8. Sometime in the future, I might even have to contact RCA directly.

[RedWolf]

Hey Matt.  Welcome to the forum.

Sadly, I have no info whatsoever to help you.  The ELF seems like a neat little homebrew kit.  I have very little in my collection from that era of microcomputers -- most of my knowledge and experience starts with prefab PCs like the Apple II and TRS-80.

With a little persistence and cunning, you can probably track down the people you listed.  That's your best bet in terms of finding information.  You just have to be willing to ask around and talk to strangers.   If you find those people, they may have old CHIP-8 / ELF documentation lying around that you can have (or have copies of).  Also, keep an eye on eBay in case some of those magazines show up, although I do suspect they are pretty rare.

For greater exposure on the Internet, you can write an article about your quest for CHIP-8, VIP, and ELF info for VC&G, and I'll put it up.  Once an article like that is live, it has a way of bringing people out of the woodwork that you never knew were there.  VC&G has a pretty high Google profile, so it helps quite a bit.  As it stays up, people find it and post comments on information that they know.

For example, someone might, in the future, look on Google to see if their VIPER magazine collection is worth anything.  If there's an article that mentions VIPER magazine on VC&G, it will probably be one of the top search results -- that person will find the VC&G page and will be able to contact you.

Let me know what you think.  And please keep us updated in your quest for info.

[MattMik]

That would be great! Thank you! I'll start writing the article, and I'll send it to you as soon as I'm done!

Thanks a lot!
~Matt

[RedWolf]

That would be great! Thank you! I'll start writing the article, and I'll send it to you as soon as I'm done!

Thanks a lot!
~Matt

Cool.  Send it to the email address on the sidebar of the main VC&G page.

[extrarice]

CHIP-8's a really popular language for people looking to get into emulator programming. It's setup like a computer is (registers, memory access, etc.). Along the way, someone wrote an English syntax for CHIP-8, but the original copy by Joseph Weisbecker was purely a hexadecimal language.

Here's an example of a program:
http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn158/MattMikolay/CHIP-8/WeisbeckerRocket.jpg
This is the code for a Space Invaders-like game with a rocket and a single UFO that floats across the screen.

That's actually a scan from an article written by CHIP-8's creator (Weisbecker) for BYTE Magazine during 1978. Sometime in the future, I plan to post all of my findings online, including the whole article.

Pseudocode is shown in that article, but CHIP-8 instructions were written directly to the Cosmac VIP's memory. An interpreter would then read the memory addresses and react.

The differences between programming practices back then and now are astounding. I think modern programmers definitely could learn a few things about code optimization. I remember taking an x86 assembly course in college, but I don't remember much of it, aside from having to convert the assignments to PowerPC assembly so I could work on them on my Mac.