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Post by David Murray on Dec 18, 2004 20:09:03 GMT -5
This is slightly off topic, but I don't know where else to turn. I realize this particular unit is more desirable to hack since it is the only one of the "TV Games" systems so far to be based off of a computer system rather than a game console. (although I wonder how long it will be before we see an Apple II games console or something) However, I haven't been able to find anything at all on hacking some of the other gazillion new retro console games out there. For example, I'd love to see a way to hook cartridges into the new Atari Flashback console based on the Atari 7800, or even the 10-in-1 joystick. Of course, I've often wondered if some of these units are totally different hardware with newly programmed look-alike games built it. After all, how hard could it be to rewrite PONG with today's modern programming tools at your disposal. Anyway, if anybody has an websites they can point me to, I'd love to see what else can be hacked out there.
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Post by MagerValp on Dec 19, 2004 6:58:48 GMT -5
For example, I'd love to see a way to hook cartridges into the new Atari Flashback console based on the Atari 7800, or even the 10-in-1 joystick. Of course, I've often wondered if some of these units are totally different hardware with newly programmed look-alike games built it. Yes, they're based on the pirate NES-in-a-chip. There's also very little to hack, but I guess you could switch out the ROM to get different games.
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Dec 19, 2004 8:28:49 GMT -5
Just got back from the mall last night, and for the second year, a vendor cart was selling something called the "Power Play" game device.
This thing really looks like a pirate NES.
It contains typical Nintendo titles (duck hunt, etc) and is called a 50-in-1 game. About 20 actual games.
The temping part about this device is that it contains a NINTENDO slot in the bottom.
Doubt any of it could be hacked....
Jeff
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Post by David Murray on Dec 19, 2004 13:38:04 GMT -5
Anybody have any information on this NES-on-a-chip? I did a search on the internet but so far haven't found anything other than references to it. Does anyone know which systems utilize this design, and if there are others?
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Post by Jeff Ledger on Dec 19, 2004 18:50:03 GMT -5
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Post by bigjb419 on Dec 27, 2004 23:16:43 GMT -5
I bought Jakks atari 2600 paddle and wonder if it is possible to hack it in order to add Kaboom! Anyone heard if this is possible? Thanks.
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Jan 4, 2005 6:41:17 GMT -5
MagarVelp is thinking of the famiclones, which use a different chipset (100 in 1 or "10,000 in 1" NES games). There are many of these. These are the ones most likely to be hackable since NES development is well-understood. I think Elan makes improved variants of these (the NES patents must have run out by now!) and probably several other companies in China.
Some of the licensed tv-games (5 in 1 or 10 in 1) use WinBond (65816) or SunPlus (Micro-n-sp) chips which are less amenable to hacking, since you have to write the software.
I suspect that the Genesis conversions, and almost certainly the pirate Atari 80 in 1 conversions (with a really spartan front-end that looks 2600-ish) are using hardware reimplementation like the C64 DTV, since that would be easiest. These might be possible to change ROMs with, although probably not as easy as some of the famiclones. I mean, if they even have a cartridge port, how easy do you want it to be?
Someone who is skilled in hardware like a MAME contributer could probably grab the ROMs off some of the machines, and then could try disassembling them to see which CPU they each use, purely for educational purposes of course.
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Post by Robin Harbron on Jan 4, 2005 11:36:05 GMT -5
I suspect that the Genesis conversions, and almost certainly the pirate Atari 80 in 1 conversions (with a really spartan front-end that looks 2600-ish) are using hardware reimplementation like the C64 DTV, since that would be easiest. I thought the Genesis one would be "the real thing" too, but apparently it's not. I shouldn't name drop, so all I can say is a friend knows the guy who recoded all the Genesis games for that unit. Sounded like he had the original source code, and wrote a conversion program to translate to the new platform, and did all the games in just 6 or 8 weeks or something. Sounded cool, hope I've got my facts/rumours right
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Jan 5, 2005 8:33:11 GMT -5
Cool, if they had source for Sonic etc., that makes it much easier than the arcade/2600 conversions which were done from ROM dumps. I guess that would be from 68000 or C. A sunplus chip for example should be able to handle Sonic, but if it was, why is the kit more expensive? Did sega charge more royalties than atari/namco/taito etc. or do the larger ROMs add that much to the price? Development costs would be quite low if they had source.
I do think the 80-in-1 pirate 2600 stick is quite impressive though... it looked like a hardware emulation. If they could add a separate tile generator to that to support a full front-end it would have looked better than the official ports.
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Post by deadsoul on Jan 5, 2005 13:21:09 GMT -5
actually the genesis one is a real genesis see www.benheck.com/ . this guy has ripped one apart and attached a cart port to it
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Jan 6, 2005 6:27:22 GMT -5
Ah, benheck.com/Games/Exodus.htmThat would make the porting very straight-forward if there was memory banking hardware (otherwise source code would be very very useful), but Radica would probably have to pay $$$ to motorola for the rights to the 68000 chip, as well as to Sega and the game developers, which might increase the costs. I suppose the extra plastic does too.
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