The sum of the parts are digital however, and it actually uses binary logic at its core. There can't be an intelligent argument against Baer on the matter, when he himself designed it as a digital system and states such. From an interview with Ralph:
"The Brown Box and its 1968 predecessor developmental systems were neither built around an analog computer (come on now...this was a consumer product!) nor was a purely analog design. While its circuitry was made up of discrete components, the circuits contained Flip-Flops, AND and OR gates, One-Shots, diode matrices, etc...what are these circuits if they are not digital circuits? People think that discrete component circuitry was strictly analog. This is complete nonsense. Of course we built digital circuits in the forties and fifties before there were IC's. In the sixties, plug-in cards with as little as one or two flip-flops were typical of logic modules of the day. So the notion that the Brown Box and its production version, the Magnavox Odyssey game was comprised of "analog circuits" is a myth...but that myth has a real origin: During the lawsuits, the opposition (Bally-Midway, Seeburg, etc) tried to make the judge believe that our circuits were analog and theirs were digital and hence they didn't fall under the Claims of our patents. The judges ruled otherwise and saw through this ploy in a hurry."
That "Odyssey is Analog" ploy has been floating around ever since, and quoted for so long on websites that its become taken as fact by some. I don't blame anyone for initially holding the view, I originally thought that it was as well because of that. I highly recommend Ralph's book "Videogames: In The Beginning" for an in depth look, or email him directly. He reads all his email.
With regards to what the author was refering to, the premise is the very problem. By assuming it was analog, he assumed it likewise could not do basic math. The logic is binary, so the argument doesn't make sense then. You can form AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR gates out of DTL, all the basics required for binary math.
On a side note, congrats on the book. If you like, I'd be happy to proof the material when you get far enough along. Either way, looking forward to seeing it. I wouldn't worry to much about people debating material, that's good when something you publish promotes discussion. And I'm sure it won't have anywhere near the accuracy problems Steve Kent's book did.
The sum of the parts are digital however, and it actually uses binary logic at its core. There can't be an intelligent argument against Baer on the matter, when he himself designed it as a digital system and states such. From an interview with Ralph:
"The Brown Box and its 1968 predecessor developmental systems were neither built around an analog computer (come on now...this was a consumer product!) nor was a purely analog design. While its circuitry was made up of discrete components, the circuits contained Flip-Flops, AND and OR gates, One-Shots, diode matrices, etc...what are these circuits if they are not digital circuits? People think that discrete component circuitry was strictly analog. This is complete nonsense. Of course we built digital circuits in the forties and fifties before there were IC's. In the sixties, plug-in cards with as little as one or two flip-flops were typical of logic modules of the day. So the notion that the Brown Box and its production version, the Magnavox Odyssey game was comprised of "analog circuits" is a myth...but that myth has a real origin: During the lawsuits, the opposition (Bally-Midway, Seeburg, etc) tried to make the judge believe that our circuits were analog and theirs were digital and hence they didn't fall under the Claims of our patents. The judges ruled otherwise and saw through this ploy in a hurry."
That "Odyssey is Analog" ploy has been floating around ever since, and quoted for so long on websites that its become taken as fact by some. I don't blame anyone for initially holding the view, I originally thought that it was as well because of that. I highly recommend Ralph's book "Videogames: In The Beginning" for an in depth look, or email him directly. He reads all his email.
With regards to what the author was refering to, the premise is the very problem. By assuming it was analog, he assumed it likewise could not do basic math. The logic is binary, so the argument doesn't make sense then. You can form AND, OR, NOT, NAND and NOR gates out of DTL, all the basics required for binary math.
On a side note, congrats on the book. If you like, I'd be happy to proof the material when you get far enough along. Either way, looking forward to seeing it. I wouldn't worry to much about people debating material, that's good when something you publish promotes discussion. And I'm sure it won't have anywhere near the accuracy problems Steve Kent's book did.
Marty
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