Do you love retro gaming and electronics? Do you want to see how a homemade computer can run one of the most influential and groundbreaking role-playing games of all time? If so, this video series is for you. In this series, I will show you how I built my own 6502 computer from scratch and how I plan to run Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar on it. Ultima IV is a classic game from 1985 that introduced a complex morality system and a non-linear story that challenged the player to become a virtuous hero. It was originally designed for the Apple II, but it was ported to many other platforms, including the Commodore 64, the Atari ST, the NES, and even the Sega Master System. But can it run on a custom-built 6502 computer? That’s what I’m going to find out!
In this video series, I will start by walking you through the schematics and design of my 6502 computer, which is based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, a low-cost chip that powered many popular computers and consoles in the 1980s. I will explain how I connected the CPU, the RAM, the ROM, the keyboard, the VGA hardware, and other components to create a functional computer. I will also share some of the challenges and solutions that I encountered along the way, such as dealing with memory limitations, graphics conversion, and keyboard input.
The ultimate goal of this video series is to run Ultima IV on my 6502 computer. This is not an easy task, as Ultima IV is a very complex and demanding game that requires a lot of resources and features that my 6502 computer does not have. I will have to overcome many obstacles to achieve this goal. But I believe it is possible, and I hope you will join me on this quest of the avatar and discover the secrets of Ultima IV on a 6502 computer!