Author: Jim Brain

In my opinion, gaming drives computing innovation, moreso than any other computing use case. I’ll fill my cup with some CoCo at the show and you can stop by and try to change my mind…

Even in the CoCo realm, I feel like pushing the platform via game development has unlocked significant platform secrets.

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed presentations on CoCo gaming from game designers/developers. Here’s Paul Thayer giving us a glimpse on his efforts to turn ideas into computing innovation through game development, using modern tooling:

As a relative “noob” in the CoCo community, I was initially surprised when CoCo discussions started comparing the the TRS80 Color Computer to an Apple Macintosh. Community support notwithstanding, it’s patently unfair to compare an early 1980’s 8-bit platform with a early 2000’s 32 bit one. That aside, both sides had their proponents. The discussions touted the graphical UI and multi-tasking capabilities in the latter, though I assumed everyone already knew the Mac sported those in spades.

After a bit, though, I realized the discussion was not about the short lived Macintosh operating system OS 9, but the Microware real time operating system OS-9 for the CoCo, and sometimes specifically about the open source variant called NitrOS9. Researching, I determined OS-9 wasn’t just a multi-tasking OS, it was a true real time operating system (RTOS), the same type of OS designers choose when stability and guaranteed operation is a must! Now, everything from toasters to watches have a real time multitasking OS, so OS-9 may not seem as impressive, but it’s important to remember OS-9 on the CoCo was a thing before Windows 1.0 even arrived and just as the Macintosh first came on the scene.

Glenside welcomes all OS-9 (and NitrOS9) enthusiasts, and we typically have at least 1 presentation each year on some aspect of the OS. This year, L. Curtis Boyle and Ken Waters will present on the platform at 10:45 on Saturday, May 4. Below is their 2022 BASIC09 presentation:

As in previous years, the 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST allows community members an opportunity to showcase advances in the “state-of-the-art”. Often times, these advances are specific to a Tandy or compatible platform, but other times the advance is more general in nature.

To be sure, few things are more general that the central processing unit in the Color Computer, the MC6809E microprocessor. And, just like anything used in the CoCo, there’s always room for improvement. Here’s Kevin Phillipson discussing his Turbo9 research effort, a modern implementation of the venerable 6809:

Though the Glenside Color Computer Club hails from the Chicago, IL area, it long ago stepped over city, state, and even country boundaries. With the advent of the Internet and most recently the need to virtualize club meetings, we now enjoy a global membership. The fest itself welcomes visitors from Louisiana to Ohio, North Carolina to Oregon, and many points in between. Beyond the USA, we welcome folks from Canada all the way to Columbia.

To illustrate our global reach at the fest, Fabian Rodriguez and Reinaldo Torres share how to CoCo in Columbia:

If you’re like me, you’re panicking a bit at this point, feverishly finishing up stuff before you pack for the show and leave. In actuality, it’s T-5 for me, since I’ll be arriving Thursday evening to help with setup and just general prep. If you are, stop, take a deep breath, and remember that we’ll enjoy your presence no matter the situation.

As John Mark and others have noted in the past, the official title is The <number> Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST!, where <number> is nominally the number of years since the first Annual event in 1992, with a skip in 2020 we don’t talk about much :-). Though, to be pedantically correct, except for the number, pretty much the entire name of the show is a lie…

As noted, with the skip in 2020, the word “annual” probably should have a “*” by it, as a few folks have noted. But, ignoring that for a moment, except for the current fest, the word “Last” in all the previous show names are lies, as we have held another one a year later. Obviously, it’s a bit of CoCo inside humor. But, if we give a pass for everything shutting down a year, us included, and keep a bit of humor in the title, I posit even the name “CoCoFEST!” is a lie.

Why, you may ask? Well, though we do tend to see quite a few Color (Colour for our members up North) Computers, we also see CoCo-like machines such as the Dragon 64, the Z-80 based Tandy machines, some related products (like the MM/1), and our favorite little Tandy system, the MC-10. Talk about an underdog!

A number of our community cater to this tiny member of the family, including Brendan Donahe. Here is Brendan explaining some novel constraints around the Tandy MC-10 video system:

So, if you have a non-CoCo Tandy or Radio Shack computer (or even a clone), you’re part of our people!

Just one month from today, the 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! will officially kick off at the Carol Stream, IL Holiday Inn. For 2024, we’ve taken over the entirety of the show space at the venue, not only filling the entirety of the main hall, but also taking over space across the hallway. CoCoFEST coordinator Grant Leighty is busy finalizing the presentation schedule, which will be posted along with hotel reservation information and exhibitor details at https://www.glensideccc.com/cocofest/. For the second year, CoCoFEST! is sponsored by Retro Rewind. Please stop by their booth at the show.

Speaking of hotel accommodations, they’ve noted 102 nights have already been reserved, though they are holding the block rate open until April 17. If you’re considering joining us in Carol Stream, there’s no better time than now to take advantage of the room rate. Like last year, attendee admission is free, though we really appreciate pre-registration via www.tandylist.com. Also as in previous years, we are offering a catered evening meal at the hotel, and you can order tickets at that web site. Finally, please consider joining GCCC or renewing your membership during your pre-registration.

Whether you’re planning to attend in person or join virtually via our streams, be sure to show off your show spirit by grabbing some of the show apparel. In addition to t-Shirts, hoodies, caps, beanies, and shorts, you can also pick up a CoCoFEST! mug, bottle, backpack, apron, laptop bag, button, magnet, or fanny pack. If there are babies in your life, nothing says you’re a great influence for that child more than a CoCoFEST branded onesie or bib! Sadly, there’s no plush CoCo Cat due to copyright concerns, but I do think the teddy bear is quite cute! No matter what you fancy, you can sport either one of our show graphic designs.

No matter why you’re planning to attend, we’re excited to share this event with you, a CoCo Connoisseur. Beyond the exhibits, presentations and the even popular No Minimum Bid Auction(tm), I hope you are able to enjoy making new friendships and strengthening existing ones. Given all of the demands on our time, I think it’s important to take a weekend like this to focus on the relationships in the community. If you have an opportunity, stop by my table at the show and say hello.

To no one’s surprise, this event would not exist without the efforts of the event staff, coordinated by showrunner Grant Leighty. I’d also like to thank Randy Weaver for assisting on the TandyList automations. If you have an opportunity at the show, please take a moment to thank our volunteers, without whose help, CoCoFEST would be nothing.