[NES and SNES Controller Sockets]

SNES ports have been used in superguns and RPi builds, so those should be widely available.

 

The NES ones I am not sure but there is a supply since the AVS and Analogue devices use them.

 

But if this is your computer... why not use DB9 or DB15? It would allow using a direct connection. Or you can look at the microcontroller code of the MiST and use a simple USB stack.

 

[MiSTer FPGA]

6 hours ago, seastalker said:

Is anyone planning ahead for USB drives when CD support might get added?

Yep. There is already support for both USB drives and network drives (using one of the scripts Pezz talks about).

The file picker also treats zip files as folders, so e.g. you can have all your Genesis stuff in one compressed file.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the only limitation is that .hdf disk images for virtual hard drives must remain uncompressed,

but not many systems require those, only a few computer cores.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

2 hours ago, Pixelboy said:

Kevtris can work out keyboard and mouse compatibility from that.

That's exactly my point. Computer cores are only possible if Kevris provides those inputs to the "developer cores" and documents it. Totally doable, but I'm waiting for some official details  on developer stuff for the Pocket before assuming it is there (because its not needed by the Pocket per se).

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

9 minutes ago, Guspaz said:

I'm sure a bunch of the early home computers would work

It is not about whether it's possible or not (it is) but rather if the Analogue propietary stack will pass through keyboard (and mouse) events to the FPGA. 

 

Not that it's hard to do, but Kevtris would have to add that specifically and it is not really needed for any console.  Maybe he already did it, but unless we see details we can't just assume.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

8 hours ago, RynoW said:

IIf people want to make that unjustified inference that's on them. They're promising the feature, but not making any promises for what will actually come out of it (since that's up to the community), which is the smart move. 

That is a bit the M.O. though. He never said the Super NT would support more cores but a lot of people got hyped about that possibility and they certainly didn't deny anything.

 

That said, technically it is an interesting move and a change in design from the previous model where the systems were completely closed. The Genesis ans SNES cores from MiST would fit, in principle.

 

I don't get the feeling this will support computers. It could be done with an on-screen keyboard, but it seems like a bunch of extra work when the main goal is just playing games. We shall see...

[Looking to get a famicom question]

If you want to use it on a modern TV, you can consider the Retro AVS and use HDMI. It also works with the FDS adapter and FDSStick.

 

Downside is that it is limited to 720p and ghe cart door is really not pretty when using FC games. 

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

They have not yet released any details on developer options for the Pocket. Until then, it just feels like a marketing ploy to hint that all MiSTer could run on it when that is not true. Taber is basically trying to hype it up using promises that can be denied. Sure, you can say that is his job as marketing guy, but it's a bit in bad taste. 

 

We can't know what is actually doable until more details surface. Taber seemingly got the specs wrong, which kind of shows building a dev community is not his priority. That does not mean the hardware is without merit, and Kevtris very probably did his homework to make it attractive to other developers. 

 

The most likely, from what I could glean, is that some open cores could be ported and loaded by users. That does make the JB obsolete to some extent  Exactly what can be done remains to be seen, but my personal impression is that it could potentially run MiST cores (the older board) and have room for spare. Probably most 8 bit consoles would fit.

 

But also bear in mind the DE10 is not dumped by Terasic - it is sold at cost, which isn't the same (and more sustainable). And for a developer the DE10 is a much more attractive option than a product made by a smaller corporation that is known to run out of stock. To be honest, even Analogue claim themselves that the Pocket is limited in quantities; meanwhile the DE10 is sold to students in universities worldwide.

 

I'd encourage all not to fall for hype and not dwell into negativity. No, open source authors do not owe anybody a port or free cores. So please don't pester them. But yes it is true that porting something over is less work and hobby/novice developers could do it.

 

Also, as long as the code is open all these cores can be ported both ways. I'd be concerned if Analogue starts doing things to prevent that (ie. if its one way due to some terms of use or propietary item for protectionism) but details on the developer features will make that clearer. I would hope they just go "here's how you do it, do whatever you want" and have a clause that its not their problem what people do with it.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

1 hour ago, CZroe said:

Well, in light of the open core (whichever it is), it is going to be really weird if our benevolent "unofficial" firmware benefactor calls his ROM-loading FW a "jailbreak" if that FPGA remains locked down.

Not really, I can see the JB being a way to allow the built in cores to be a little more flexible. 

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

10 minutes ago, CZroe said:

Where did Kevtris say this? Is there an interview?

Analogue channel in the Retro Gaming Discord

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

It looks like that is a mix-up. Kevtris stated the FPGA open for devs is the Cyclone V, which frankly makes more sense.

 

The Cyclone 10 is probably smaller and used for the scaler and other admin tasks (e.g. load cores and maybe ROMs from SD card).

 

But yes, there are both a Cyclone V and Cyclone 10 in there.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

The vertical layout of the DMG is more iconic than the GBA horizontal layout. It makes sense they went for that.

 

 

[MiSTer FPGA]

Have you tried the updater script? That makes it even simpler to upgrade cores.

[Is a MiST worth it?]

That's a great setup!

 

I got myself a couple of mechanical keyboards so I get close to old school ones.

 

There are options to run original keyboards over USB, but it gets stupid expensive very fast.

[Why I don't grok e-sports]

There was a video as to how the world champion of a F1 videogane was given a free trial to drive a real F1 car on a real track.

 

He was technically good... but he had serious trouble with the physical demands of it, stopping a few times to throw up. He did continue and loved it. Video concluded that he is now part if a racing club for regular practice, but he is nowhere close to be able to compare to real F1 champions (and he does not seek that either)

 

If anything e-sports are sports of the mind, but not the body. Watching it is bit more like watching Jeopardy, perhaps. 

[MiSTer FPGA]

I personally find it much more straightforward to setup and maintain my two MiSTers than setting up an RPi or hack consoles for emulation.

 

I would say it is as complex (or easy) to setup as an Everdrive, with added SFTP capabilities to transfer files. 

[Starting/wanting to collect for Sega stuff]

On 10/7/2019 at 1:42 AM, guitarmas said:

I sold everything just to raise money for someone that I thought I was going to be with forever.

I am sorry for your loss and I hope you are okay now. Sadly it's too easy to get convinced by a SO that we don't need "that kiddie stuff' for them to buy whatever crap they want instead.

 

Personally I would go only for stuff that you have memories for and would actually like to display on a shelf. I'd also explore FPGA alternatives to systems since it would allow you to use regular HDMI displays without upscalers. 

[Super Mario Bros. 2 (J)]

I finished Lost Levels on the SNES bitd, and it was fun once. Not sure we missed much.

[To share an unreleased ROM or not to Share?]

The biggest concern for me would be that these games could be lost forever. I can understand a collector being reticent if the dumping / copying process is destructive, but otherwise it feels like they just want to be the gatekeepers for something. 

[MiSTer FPGA]

Great video explaing the benefits of FPGA, MiSTer, Analogue devices, and more:

 

I will add one correction though, to give credit where due: the MiSTer SNES core was made by srg320 without referencing SD2SNES code, but raher using various other references (including byuu's documentation for bsnes/higan). Believe it or not, he did not own a SNES before hand!

 

Srg320 is also the author of the HDL code to support Virtua Racing on the Genesis core, which was then licensed by the MegaSD for use in their cart (note, srg320 is a different person than Sorgelig).

[Is a MiST worth it?]

5 hours ago, R.Cade said:

Apple IIe and maybe a couple others that support 15KHz where Mister does not on all cores. 

The Apple II core on MiSTer was just improved to support 15khz. Anothed unique core is a0486 (for DOS games of the ~386 era).

[Is a MiST worth it?]

7 hours ago, Bill Loguidice said:

I note there's also a SCART cable for the MIST, which would be ideal for my XRGB-mini. Does that give the same overall quality as the VGA connection?

Yes. The XRGB-Mini can even accept 31khz over SCART, I've used it like that for a while.

 

It also allows converting 50hz (PAL) content into 60hz (NTSC) since the XRGB has a framebuffer.

[Retro Freak firmware update]

Finally a custom firmware!

https://github.com/amoore2600/rfdumper

 

It allows dumping ROMs but removing the custom encryption, meaning you can bqackup your own carts to use with any amulator or FPGA device. Looks like it will get me using my RF again...

 

 

[Is a MiST worth it?]

4 hours ago, Austin said:

Pardon my ignorance, but what are the advantages to using a MiST these days compared to the MiSTer?

Pros:

- MIDI ports

- a mature Atari ST core that is not yet ported elsewhere

- works natively with Atari and Amiga controllers

- analogue video out as standard

- nice metal box

 

Cons:

- Price. For the money you can get a full MiSTer.

- The FPGA is much smaller than MiSTer (so some cores of MiSTer wont fit at all)

- USB controller mapping is manual

(firmware limited to 256kb so can't add too many extra features)

 

It's a good system, and I still use my 2 MiSTs sometimes, with older VGA monitors that I have. But it is no longer my main setup, I have 2 MiSTer that I use with HDMI both at home and when traveling.

 

I wish Lotharek made a smaller version at a cheaper price (he mentioned it on a group long ago). But maybe some parts are harder to source.

[MiSTer FPGA]

I should add that currently only 128MB is supported by all cores, and there are no plans to support more for now. So using dual 128MB boards for 256MB won't give you any benefits.

 

Bear in mind the DE10 Nano has 1GB of DDR RAM as well, and cores use that if possible. Only cores with ROMs that require very fast access timings use SDRAM, and Neogeo are probably the biggest chip based ROMs out there (CD/optical media are slower and can work with other typed of storage).

[MiSTer FPGA]

3 hours ago, RabidWookie said:

I'd heard a dual ram slot board was in the works in case future cores need multiple banks in parallel.

You can already install 2 SDRAM boards. There is also a new feature to output native 240p video from the HDMI port, so you can connect an HDMI to VGA converter instead of the IO board.