Phoenix

The Phoenix is an FPGA-based game system with several retro game system cores, most notably the ColecoVision game console and the Atari 2600. The files here are the open source HDL for the system.

Phoenix Core Build Instructions

Currently the build is a little lacking, and multiple steps are required. Eventually the ISE steps will also be replaced with a Makefile.

1. Phoenix ColecoVision Core bit-stream

• Create an ISE 14.7 project in a directory parallel-to the Phoenix source called: collectorvision-ise
• Choose the Spartan-6 SLX16, CSG-324, speed grade 2.
• Add all the HDL files in the rtl directory to the project.
• Remove f18a_top.vhd, f18a_brd_v13.ucf, altddio_out1.vhd, and serializer_generic.vhd from project
• Right-click the Generate Programming File process, choose Process Properties -> Configuration Options, and set the Configuration Rate to 26, and Unused IOB Pins to Float. Click OK.
• Double-click Generate Programming File to make a bit-stream.

2. Phoenix Core Menu

A Windows command prompt is necessary for this step, the Makefile is currently specific to Windows. make and the necessary SDCC binaries are included.

• In a Windows console, change to the gameMenus/coleco/src directory.

• Type make

  Produces the phoenixBoot.rom file in the same directory. Do not move it, the location is known by the next step.

3. Phoenix Core

A MinGW or Msys environment is assumed for this step, although a Unix system should work as well (untested). The utilities will need to be rebuilt for a Unix environment, see the associated Makefiles in the Utils/<utility> directories.

• In a MinGW or Msys console, change to the cores/phoenix directory.
• Type make all

The result of these steps will be:

1. A merged bit-stream in the main directory called phoenix_top.merged.bit, which can be loaded directly into the FPGA with a JTAG programming cable.
2. A core file called CORE01.PHX in the main directory that can be loaded onto an SD-card and used directly with the Phoenix console to update the COLECOVISION core in the system.