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Post by dshadoff on Apr 22, 2024 22:09:42 GMT
I put this up on Twitter a few weeks ago, but I don't think I mentioned this here. I've put together a Development Cartridge for the PC-FX, which can be used for booting homebrew programs, or even just transferring game saves to/from the computer. Right now, it's a prototype PC board (with plans on how to make one), but I plan on updating the design soon, to be a more streamlined design with a proper case. More information (and plans) can be found here: github.com/dshadoff/PC-FX_devcartPC software is all written in Python, so it's multi-platform too.
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exodus
Punkic Cyborg
Posts: 161
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Post by exodus on Apr 23, 2024 17:42:02 GMT
Really neat! So this plugs into the memory slot? It can boot homebrew potentially, is there anything to stop it booting commercial games?
Incidentally DM me your email address if you would - I want to talk about photo CD games, and I've stopped using twitter!
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Post by dshadoff on Apr 23, 2024 19:50:05 GMT
Really neat! So this plugs into the memory slot? It can boot homebrew potentially, is there anything to stop it booting commercial games? Incidentally DM me your email address if you would - I want to talk about photo CD games, and I've stopped using twitter! This development cartridge just allows programs to run in the same boot area of memory as any normal program (0x8000) loads into. Since CD accesses are hardcoded into existing games, there is no way that this device would be able to intercept/redirect them, so there is no hope that this could be an optical disc emulator (if that's what you're asking about). For that, you would likely need to attach such a device to the cable between the daughterboard and the CDROM drive (possibly replacing the CDROM drive). It might be possible to add some functionality to the dev cart to allow homebrew to "chain load" additional chunks of memory from the host, as a commercial game might do from CD, but this is not built yet... Then again, there isn't any homebrew created yet which might require such functionality. Homebrew is just starting out, but it's now at the point where "catridge-style" games can be created. As for the discussion about PhotoCD games, I think that would be a good topic for conversation in the "PC-FX General Discussion" forum, so please start a topic in there and I'll be happy to answer your questions so that everybody can participate and learn what they would like to know.
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Post by ericde45 on Apr 27, 2024 11:19:17 GMT
Hello Mister dshadoff, i'm very intersted in your work. if i start working on pc-fx, i will be going diretly using assembler and no SDK as usual, so if using CDs, it will involve a lot of burned CDs but i am quite lame on electronics. can you tell if it possible to have a working solution only using standard parts available on line, + a little bit of soldering ? for example a raspberry pi, or thinkerboard, + a standard voltage converter and wires to connect to the pc-fx ?
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Post by dshadoff on Apr 27, 2024 22:59:22 GMT
Hello Mister dshadoff, i'm very intersted in your work. if i start working on pc-fx, i will be going diretly using assembler and no SDK as usual, so if using CDs, it will involve a lot of burned CDs but i am quite lame on electronics. can you tell if it possible to have a working solution only using standard parts available on line, + a little bit of soldering ? for example a raspberry pi, or thinkerboard, + a standard voltage converter and wires to connect to the pc-fx ? I saw your videos in the Introductions section; those look really great ! First, about the state of PC-FX development, the tools are still weak, but we are making progress. The best thing is to try to make demos and see how the tools can be improved (and then work to improve them). The gcc compiler (currently at github.com/jbrandwood/v810-gcc ) is good, and works well. It also provides assembler and linker, so it's quite decent. There are also repositories for "pcfxtools" and "liberis" which are more specific to the PC-FX. They are very basic, and some limitations are still being found through trial and error on these. We are planning to improve and/or replace these with more effective tools and APIs, but would love to hear feedback, and would love assistance in building these tools and APIs. As for the development card, I recommend initial testing with the special Medanfen here: github.com/pce-devel/mednafenPceDev , and I will be making a nicer version of this card as soon as I can get a chance. Without a proper case, this one is a little bit unstable in the cartridge slot. Each board I design, I always try to include the design plans, including how to get JLCPCB (a Chinese PC Board manufacturer) to make and assemble them.
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