["NES Super 8" project]

Great! Very nice pics! Very clean board.

 

18 hours ago, low_budget said:

I am also working on a NES - Neo Geo controller adapter.  Basically a standard controller circuit x2 wired to Neo Geo controller ports.  I hope to have this available soon.

 

Wow! For the joystick or gamepad? Powerfull Nes 

["NES Super 8" project]

2 hours ago, DragonFire said:

I love projects like this. It's wonderful to see people breathing new life into old hardware.

@low_budget What's the best way to keep up with your hardware projects? Do you have a website/social media?

+1

Please upload to youtube or instagram some pics and videos :)

How much would be for a DIY kit?
 

["NES Super 8" project]

On 5/22/2020 at 12:51 AM, low_budget said:

 

I don't plan on designing any replacement PCBs for other 8 bit Nintendo systems at this time.  The top loader NES is a lot less common than the front loader, and there would be many extra challenges.  There would be less room on the PCB for any extra circuitry and controller ports would be difficult to desolder and reuse.

 

I'm working on the next revision of the NESessity, and I'm open to suggestions.

 

Possibly add an 8p mini-DIN connector for RGB replacing the composite RCA connector?

Possibly add a SP3T switch for palette selection near the expansion port (when using a NESRGB?)

Congrats for the work!

 

A nice addition will be to add the +5V at VGA Pin_9 to meet RGB specification for a VGA-to-SCART-cable if you finally use a VGA for multiple video output (composite and RGB):

 

Pin 9	KEY/PWR	+5 V DC (powers EDID EEPROM chip on some monitors), formerly key

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector

 

 

If you see at SCART Pin_16 wee need to put 3V to enable RGB at SCART connections (normally for European TV):

 

Pin 16		Blanking signal up RGB-selection voltage up 0–0.4 V → composite 1–3 V → RGB

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART

:)

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

On 3/12/2020 at 3:54 PM, Toth said:

How did you diagnose and fix your problem?

The diagnosis was easy like due the break came from the power control / regulation.

 

Every time I did a second time bootup when shuted down. It didn't boot like it needs to dischargue a capacitor.

 

My suposition was that the fail was origined from a bad disconnection from the PSU cable when the console was on. Like an electric crossing. But I can't prove it.

 

It cost me more than two months to find the problem. But finally was more easy to repair than expected.

 

Now works fine

 

["NES Super 8" project]

12 hours ago, low_budget said:

However, I am working on a replacement NES PCB at the moment.  It will not be a replica or reproduction, but essentially a Super 8 bit redesigned to fit into a NES front loader case. 

 

I cannot say for sure if this will ever be released, but I am working on it.

Good direction! I suppose the NesRGB kit will fit on it 

 

PD: I have top loader version :$

["NES Super 8" project]

On 3/23/2020 at 4:54 PM, Bratwurst said:

Ah, name calling, and I'm the immature one? My only point is expecting someone else (in this context, low_budget) to give away their labor is a bad attitude. Open source work is just fine when someone volunteers it. Asking for it when it wasn't volunteered is bereft of class.

Hey! You have to understand what is open source or creative commons licenses.

 

For open source project we can volunteered as bug testers, reviewers or adding our implementations. This is how Linux Kernel works. Now is so far better than other SO for servers.

 

I supported Analog / Kevtris (more the original project of Kevin Horton) for the NT Mini due the price was lower within the Jailbreak features. I known the milled aluminium enclosure cost more than 100$. And this pushed the price near premium line.

 

I had bad customer service with Analogue. I was waiting more than six months for a response for repairment. They sold all units and they did'nt kept any for repairs. Finally I solved the problem myself. I hope they learned about this in the new products.

 

Yes I read the first post from @low_budget. I totally disagree how Analogue threated him. But I suppose they learned and changed the direction with the @kevtris contract.

 

Now the contrincant is MiSTer. An open source FPGA project from the community. For DIYers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

On 3/6/2020 at 7:16 PM, CZroe said:

On 3/6/2020 at 6:42 PM, RetrogamerX said:

That's it. Analogue Nt mini V2 sold out.  That was very quick.  I thought it would be up a week or 2 longer? They have jumped over a £1000 already on ebay.
 
Can only hope they do a cheaper nes model like the mega sg and super nt?

I'm sure they hold a certain quantity of extras for warranty spares that they will sell after they are no longer needed. This seems to be what they did with those recent special edition Super Nt and Mega Sg sales where they left out the controller (warranty units didn't need controllers).

 

I don't known if they will do for the V2. Because they didn't for the Nt Mini V1 ("5V version" run).

 

My Nt Mini has a faulty power on when restart. The fault appeared three months after the purchase. I had waiting more than six months for the replacement. Nearby a year. They always sends me an email for wait a long more for the PCB replacement.

 

Finally at nearly one year latter Analogue send me an email to ship the Nt Mini for repair in warranty. I never send due finally I sholved myself the error hopefully.

 

I didn't trust to them due high prices on eBay. My supspicios was they sold all.

I hope they have learned how to keep for spares.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

3 hours ago, atmn said:

Just for the record... What kind of versions of V1 Nt Mini are there?

My guess..

 

Run1, original batch.

Run2, identical with Run1.

Run3, updated VGA with 5V on pin9 for SCART-blanking.

 

I have the updated VGA for blanking (thanks @kevtris for reading our propositions ).

 

Doesn't was the second run?

 

["NES Super 8" project]

On 12/20/2017 at 6:22 PM, pirek22 said:

Hello

 

Can anyone share the project to create PCBs ??

 

Or maybe someone has another project nes and can share it.

 

I would like to create such a miracle from scratch, starting with creating PCBs.

 

Can anyone share a tile project ??

 

I hope to that this project comes open source. This is a very nice project.

 

I would have liked to buy a Super 8. But it was too hight priced for me

 

I choosed Nt mini instead due jailbreak. But all my support for low_budget.

 

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

 This are my thoughts for the incoming Nt mini V2:

If Nt mini V2 has more advanced hardware compared to the Nt mini V1 and they will don't share new improvements there are no excuses to make it 4K out at HDMI for the price (500$)  ?

 

Yes! I'm a happy Nt mini V1 (second run) owner

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

2 hours ago, kevtris said:

the tuner has an ADC.  It outputs data in the format the LCD on the GG takes, which is... terrible.  It is actually checkerboard interlaced.  I played megaman 2 on the tuner and it was... rough. looool.  But it's in there.  So you could play skyrim on the mega sg in 160*144 pixel glory  (or gory).

 

Hi @kevtris !

Will you do a GB/GBC adaptor (with cable link option) for NT Mini if finally Analogue will made a third batch of the NT Mini?

And.. Will you finally add NES Famicom Disk System / FDS jailbreak at the NT Mini or Pocket?

Thanks! My appreciation to your work!

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

I don't known why IPS panel over OLED. Anyway is a great project to get in

 

Love from 8bit retro community ❤️

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

Where is SELECT + START iconic buttons? At down-right near the palm grip?

 

I suppose we can map this buttons to shoulder buttons for LSDJ's work

PD: A pro-sound mod for jack / rca out would be the next level! (or digital audio out at hdmi / spdif)

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

22 hours ago, Pixelboy said:

EDIT: Also, there's the Super Game Boy which you can use on the Super-Nt...

 

 

Yes! My partner has the Super Game Boy 2 for this. It adds the link and better clock accuracy.

 

But Nt Mini has good sound, very clean, and very easy to work.

 

23 hours ago, CZroe said:

Didn't kevtris release the cartridge adapter designs for DIY?

 

 

I hope @kevtris will release the DIY desings and adds firmware support for them. And the missing 8bit cores for the Nt Mini if possible. Too many desires ...

 

A new Analogue GB/GBC handled clone will be a good choice too if video output will be supported.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

Hi @kevtris

 

Do you expect to sell GameBoy or GBC cartridge adaptors for the Analogue Nt Mini with link socket as option?

 

We desired it for LSDJ use with Drag'n'derp cartridge and midi as audio "scene" producer

 

Yes, we can mod a GB for VGA out but the Nt Mini is very handy!

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

 

The YM2143 FM Synthesis recreation on the Nt Mini is good but struggles a bit with some of the more difficult tracks. A true "FMophile" may not be satisfied with it, but don't forget that the Core was a freebie. Here are some sample recordings :

 

http://www.mediafire.com/file/a3hnkjdkshfnkp1/Japanese_SMS-Nt_Mini_FM_Recordings.7z

 

 

Hi! Good choice with the Flac codec. But audio levels are not normalized. Audio from the Nt Mini is clipping.

 

I don't have an HDMI audio extractor for SPDIF audio out. If I had time I would record the analogue RCA audio out from the Nt Mini with my ADC converter.

 

 

Sound at the Nt Mini sound very quiet (without floor noise) and very well mixed / balanced. At the spectrum analyzer Nt Mini seems more bass heavier.

 

Don't forget that old audio capacitors at the output filter would sound less bright (muffled) over time.

 

 

 

After Burner JSMS - Spectrum

 

 

After Burner Nt Mini - Spectrum

 

 

 

Software (Windows):

- foobar2000

- foobar2000 VST Wrapper plugin

- Voxengo SPAN

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

This weekend I finished the Phantasy Star SMS game ROM with the FM enabled on the Analogue NT Mini.

 

The Master System FM emulation at the NT Mini is awesome. Very quiet, beautiful, very good work!

 

 

 

I hope the GB/GBC cartridge adaptors will be released someday for the Drag'n'derp / LSDJ compatibility. It would be a great tool for chip tune makers.

 

Don't forget PC Engine!

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

Looks like the DAC will be ready in 1-2 months:

 

https://twitter.com/analogue_co/status/954567887833858052

 

 

Outputs:

 

- RGB

- Component

- S-video

- Composite

- Analog audio

- ...and probably more

 

 

 

I hope they will add:

 

- Digital audio output - SPDIF/Coaxial: 32kHz (SNES native), 44.1kHz (redbook CD) or 48kHz, 96kHz (HQ standard)...

 

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

Maybe you could use it upside down if you switch the wiring internally from left->right, right->left, up->down, down->up etc

 

 

 

I suck at using the NES Advantage even with NES games because I'm right-handed.

 

Like this mod: Goofy Foot - NES Controller Mod Kit by Steve DeLuca

 

I have my own mod over an arcade controller like NES Advantage with a 6-wires-toggle-switch (DPAD + START + SELECT) to flip it. Is very easy to do.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

I did write the code for the menu and implement the functionality. That has something to do with it. The extra font was my idea actually. I did not design the menu, however (or its font).

 

I'm one of those guys that prefer the usability from the NT Mini menu compared to the design of the Super Nt. Good work at the NT Mini

 

Duality: Usability vs. Design

 

 

But I recognise that I love the boot up logo and that sound work of Squarepusher. Great music artist, good team.

 

 

I do not have a genesis or pce core at this time. I don't even know much about the hardware of either, except that the pce is very similar to an NES. It took most of this year just to do the SNES core, so while I am fairly quick in implementation, I am not magic. I am not sure how long a genesis core would take, but probably the better part of 5-6 months. I have to write a complete 68K core for it. There ARE 68K cores, but from what I gather they don't match the timing of the real chip and there may be other incompatibilities. PCE would be easier; I have the CPU and I read through the technical documentation so I have a good idea what it'd take to implement it.

 

 

I hope the PC Engine / Turbografx-16 will be ported to the NT Mini.

 

I have a RGB modded "PC Engine CD" (the japanese TurboDuo) but for sure your "core" will have better analogue output and quiet sound like all of your cores to replace it.

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

Look into the MiSTer, it's exactly what you describe minus the Kevtris cores. Instead it has many open source cores including arcades and computers. It supports lots of USB controllers and adapters for original gamepads.

 

Neither the Analogue NT or the Super NT have 3rd party support right now. This MiSTer is built on top of an FPGA development board (Terasic DE10 Nano Kit) so it's fully open and documented. There is also one person looking at porting it to a cheaper board (DE0 Nano), giving up HDMI and some FPGA space for the price difference ($99 instead of $130).

 

http://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Main_MiSTer/wiki

 

Edit: I appreciate that the Kevtris cores are done to a higher standard but it's really two different markets. If you have development in mind these boards are a better investment, and aren't too pricey either. You can help improve what's missing from the cores too

 

The NT machines are better for those looking at an end product without any intents of development. That said it's limited to consoles, while the MiSter boards have computer cores as well (Amiga, c64, AppleII, Mac+, Acorn Archimedes, PC 386, ZX Spectrum, Sam Coupe, etc).

 

Yeah! Two different things!

 

 

Nt Mini is a luxurious "perfect" NES (now 8bit "general purpouse") machine, with great options and connections as described (great aluminium enclosure, analogue and digital output, ...) from a private company.

 

MiSTer is a great open source FPGA ("hybrid" ) project with awesome features (Linux, HDMI, Ethernet, ...) from the retro-friendly community.

 

 

I like them both due Nt Mini has a great engineer that has released their cores for free (yes, Nt Mini is a little costly) on it and they works like a charm And MiST/MiSTer has a great community behind.

 

 

I hope soon the Atari ST from MiST* will be ported. And hope they will started the Atari Falcon development. But the developers need the paid work to eat. This is a free "charity" work at their own free time. Like kevtris Jailbreak.

 

 

* There are a little companies selling MiST (with enclose). When more companies are behind indicates more interest for the final user (consumer), bringing new developers and growing the community (like Linux, RaspberryPi, Arduino, ... ). And this is when the price point falls due more demand

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

In fairness to lcd/led/oled/digital displays in general as you said as long as it is under 16ms it is less than a frame of lag so if you are going from the natively output hdmi of the super nt or an ossc converer/upscaler to a display with less than 16ms input lag then you are still frame accurate (depending on your clock speed setting in the super nt which hopefully has a standard option and not just the sped up for compatibility version). Even speedrunners that sometimes have to time reactions to the frame wouldn't be able to complain about that.

 

That comparison makes it sound like all digital displays will add ~2 frames (30ms) of input lag but that simply isn't the case at all. There are plenty of affordable non-oled displays that offer under 16ms of input lag. Standard gaming monitors aim for 5ms or less.

 

 

The "5ms from standard gaming monitor" is not really true: gray-to-gray specs

 

 

 

Why IS there black-to-white and gray-to-gray? Why not stick to one?

 

Simple answer: money. Display manufacturers know that going from black-to-white takes longer than it does for it to go from gray-to-gray. It makes more sense for them to advertise the fastest number, because it makes the display look more attractive in the consumer’s eyes. Unless you are comparing displays fairly (using either GTG or BTW), you shouldn’t read too deeply into this measurement.

 

DisplayLag: Exposed: Input Lag vs. Response Time

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

 

HDMI and flat panel televisions did not exist when the SNES was in production. Pixels were never intended to be displayed on modern flat panel televisions, along with introduced lag. In the context of our old retro gaming systems, no matter how you cut it, a pure digital signal via HDMI cannot properly reproduce an analogue picture on a modern flat panel. I do understand what you are saying as a technicality, but in my opinion RGB is the reference point, like the NT Mini. All of our old consoles were designed to be displayed through an analogue signal on a CRT. It doesn't matter how the sausage was made. I know analogue and CRTs are going away, but a pure digital signal via HDMI is a compromise for our old systems, not a reference point. That isn't debatable. The Super NT is probably going to be the next best thing, but the picture won't be displayed the way an original SNES was designed and intended to be. To me, Analogue marketing the Super NT as a reference system is ambiguous at best. Thats just my opinion. Analogue first as intended, HDMI second as a modern compromise.

 

 

For me actual reference point is a RGB CRT TV standards clone.

 

This means a pixel perfect screen (integer scaling) with all 100% RGB colour accuracy (or 100% NTSC if possible: 100% sRGB = 72% NTSC, standard on majority of CRT TV tubes), contrast and brightness, and of course with minimal lag (microseconds) like the old CRT.

 

 

 

Meleeitonme: Ugh, This TV Lags!

 

 

 

Maybe in a future the OLED or new Q-LED panels and internal hardware will bring microseconds of lag.

 

 

Now big TV panels (IPS LED) lags about less than 1 frame -> 16 milliseconds. All of them are still usable to play for majority of games.

 

 

Display Input Lag Database

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

yes, that is the link cable port. Unfortunately, GB and game gear both use custom cart connectors so these adapters probably aren't something I personally could make many of without destroying gameboys in the process. There are replacement GB connectors (for one of the newer systems AFAIR but still compatible) but there's no link port replacement connector that I know of. Maybe 4 player adapters? I don't know.

 

 

kevtris, I see that the Game Gear (GG) LCD replacement mod from McWill uses a 3.5" LCD TFT 240p screen (320x240) adding seven scaling options:

 

1. Scaled Resolution: The Game Gear's 160x144 resolution, stretched to the 320x240 resolution of the internal LCD screen.
2. Scaled Resolution with Scanlines: This mode ads vertical scanlines, emulating the look of the original screen. It's very hard to capture in pictures, but in person I really enjoyed the effect it created.
3. Doubled Horizontal Resolution, Scaled Vertical resolution: This mode doubles the GG's 160 horizontal pixels to 320, so when stretched to the 320 pixels of the LCD screen, the horizontal resolution eds up scaled perfectly, while the vertical resolution is stretched.
4. Doubled Horizontal Resolution, Scaled Vertical resolution with Scanlines: This is the same mode as above, with scanlines added.
5. Doubled GG Resolution (upper and lower parts are cut off): The Game Gear's resolution is doubled to 320x288, but only 240 of the 288 vertical pixels are displayed. This allows for no stretching, but with the top and bottom of the image cut off. In some games this doesn't really make any difference at all.
6. Doubled GG Resolution with Scanlines: This is the same mode as above, with scanlines added.
7. Native Resolution: This final mode displays the native 160x144 resolution, centered in the 320x240 resolution of the screen.

RetroRGB: McWill's Game Gear LCD Replacement

 

 

What do you think to implement the "non-scanline-add" (1, 3 and 5) options as an option for the portable cores (GB, GBC, GG, ...) at the RGB 240p output?

 

 

Testing the option 5 for x2 scaling would work with some games:

 

 

 

Wishlist?

 

 

 

 

Lol yeah that. And I agree, love my ags-101, but imagine an fpga powered multicore handheld driving a nice 5-7" screen.

 

 

On the paper 720p 4:3 (960x720) resolution is the best fit for portable (GB, GBC and GG) and desktop consoles:

 

 

Game Boy (GB) & Game Gear (GG)

160x144

x5

800x720

> diff 720p: 160w 0h [17%w 0%h] (80x2w 0x2h)

This resolution is perfect pixel for 4K TV (3840x2160 is x3 times the 720p 16:9 resolution) without interpolation escalation needs from TV part.

But I was searching for a native LCD TFT TV for 720p 4:3 (960x720). I didn't found any (17", 19", ... or less like 3", 5", 7", ...)... maybe never was released declined by the widescreen resolutions (720p 16:9).

Find a 4:3 portable screen without interpolation needs (pixel perfect) will be a big headache... or... we can apply a black adhesive tape at the lateral screen borders like the Game Boy Color BennVenn's AGS-101 mod

[FPGA Based Videogame System]

 

 

I have a HDMI-to-VGA converter with a VGA-to-SCART(RGB) cable. This solution works perfect for raspberryPi to CRT TV.

 

I didn't found spects about but I think this will be minimal lag (microseconds). Software emulation and LCD/LED/OLED display lag is the issue compared (minimum 1 frame -> 16 seconds).

 

 

Sorry! Correction: 1 frame -> 16 ms (millisecond)

 

 

Anyone has tested the old 19" (or more) LCD TFT with 4:3 resolution and HDMI? I see some Samsungs that have good reputation to emulate scanlines on it!