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Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 9115

Posted: 08:59am 14 Mar 2026

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The actual size isn't important is it? Your program area size is fixed by the firmware version.

MM.INFO(HEAP) is important as it directly concerns the operation

Any spare RAM is allocated to A:/ automatically IIRC. You don't get extra program area to play with.

There is also MM.INFO(OPTION FLASH SIZE) if that's of interest, but you can't do much about it. :)

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini

Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3367

Posted: 09:44am 14 Mar 2026

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I think that when Bill says RAM he actually means flash memory. There is no function in the PicoMite firmware to control the amount of flash memory used and it will probably stay that way. This is because, when the firmware is first loaded, it checks how much flash is present and uses anything not needed by the firmware for the internal flash drive (A:). You cannot subsequently change the amount of flash used without corrupting the flash drive (A:).

I tried to keep it simple with the PicoGamer by offering constructors an image that included everything (MMBasic, menu, games, etc) in the one file. However, it would be handy to also supply these components as individual files (as Volhout and Peter suggested). Then you could use whatever firmware you liked. This is still on my list of things to do real soon.

Geoff
Edited 2026-03-14 19:54 by Geoffg

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

Turbo46

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Joined: 24/12/2017
Location: Australia
Posts: 1694

Posted: 09:47pm 14 Mar 2026

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Quote I think that when Bill says RAM he actually means flash memory

Yes Geoff. Sorry for the confusion.

Bill

Keep safe. Live long and prosper.

PilotPirx

Senior Member

Joined: 03/11/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 138

Posted: 07:05am 13 Apr 2026

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Hi,

I couldn’t resist and went ahead and got the parts for the PicoGamer. Flashing the Waveshare RP2040-Plus with 4MB went smoothly, but I can’t get access via Tera Term.
The COM port is there, the heartbeat LED is blinking, but nothing comes through via Terminal or Tera Term.
A test with the standard Picomite firmware runs perfectly, and Tera Term works.
I used “PicoGamer_V1.0_4MB_Flash.uf2”—am I doing something wrong?

Geoffg

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Joined: 06/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3367

Posted: 07:43am 13 Apr 2026

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I assume that the PicoGamer works normally (ie, it starts up showing the PicoGamer menu on the LCD panel). This is because the firmware image is configured to automatically start running,

To see something on the console (ie, TeraTerm on the USB console) you need to interrupt the running program with CTRL-C on the console. Does this work?

Geoff
Edited 2026-04-13 17:44 by Geoffg

Geoff Graham - http://geoffg.net

PilotPirx

Senior Member

Joined: 03/11/2020
Location: Germany
Posts: 138

Posted: 07:51am 13 Apr 2026

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Thanks, Geoff, for the quick reply.
That would explain it. I haven't soldered the board yet because I'm still waiting for some parts.

Yes, pressing Ctrl-C works!!
Edited 2026-04-13 18:11 by PilotPirx

Volhout

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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 6101

Posted: 12:14pm 10 Sep 2026

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Hi Geoff,

Is it your intention to release new uf2 files with MMBasic 6.03.xx ? Or define an upgrade path ?
Newer games for the plaform are not always compatible with the earlier MMBasic releases (5.08 for Game*Mite, but not sure what Pico Gamer runs on).

Volhout

P.S. you may need alternate versions for some of the games, because newer MMBasic has more reserved keywords. I have patched many games already, so could help you with that. I also have an updated version of your MENU (in flash slot 1) that supports scrolling up and down through a longer list.

P.P.S. given the fact that PicoGamer is also a silicon chip project, a uf2 may be the way to go. People may not be so handy with upgrading PicoMite systems.
Edited 2026-09-10 22:17 by Volhout

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