DRÖM

DRÖM ("DREAM" in Swedish) is a DREAM 6800 emulator that lets you relive the late 70s hobby computer scene. It comes with a few CHIP-8 games that you can load up and play, as well as the game Dream Invaders by DREAMSOFT.

The DREAM 6800 was a popular DIY microcomputer that played CHIP-8 programs on a TV.  It was designed by Michael J. Bauer, and its specifications and build instructions were published in the Electronics Australia magazine in 1979.

Batteries included

• CHIPOS, DREAMSOFT's monitor/operating system and CHIP-8 interpreter (included with permission), as well as my extension CHIPOSLO
• DREAMSOFT's Dream Invaders game can be loaded (included with permission)
• 4K RAM (1980 expansion)
• An assortment of CHIP-8 games that were originally listed in Electronics Australia and DREAMER

Instructions

When CHIPOS starts up, it will display an address at the bottom of the screen.

First, type a 4-digit hexadecimal number to enter a memory address.

Then execute one of the following commands:

• FN, 0: MEMOD (MEMory MODify): The contents of the address will be displayed as a 2-digit hexadecimal number. Type a new 2-digit number to replace the memory contents. The memory address will automatically advance by one. You can also press FN to advance one byte without modifying anyting.
• FN, 3: Run: Executes a program starting at the current address. To run a CHIP-8 program (which is loaded at address 0200), run the CHIP-8 interpreter at C000.

Loading (FN, 1) and dumping (FN, 2) cassettes isn't supported yet, but instead you can use the "File" menu to quickload CHIP-8 games or DREAM INVADERS.

At any time, press RESET to return to the monitor program.

History

The DREAM 6800 (Domestic Recreational Educational and Adaptive Microcomputer) was a Motorola 6800-based microcomputer created by Michael J. Bauer. Its construction was detailed in Electronics Australia in 1979, and it included a monitor program called CHIPOS (Compact Hexadecimal Interpretive Programming and Operating System) and a CHIP-8 interpreter.

It had its own newsletter, DREAMER, published between 1980 and 1982.

You can read more about the DREAM's history on Michael's official DREAM 6800 Archive Site.

I also wrote some blog posts describing the development of DRÖM and CHIPOSLO, my CHIPOS extension.