Homebrew game system?

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:29 pm

Hello, I am an electronics guy who is starting to learn programming language(QuickBasic4.5) and i am wondering if I can use my EPROM burner to make a DOS-based primitive console that reads cartridges. Before I start trying to design it, I'd like to know if it is possible.

Post by **gannon** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 7:52 pm

Yeah, it's possible, even if it isn't all that practical.
I would base it off of those small "Computers on a chip" They only run around 30 mhz and use ext. ram, but they should work great for this application

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:42 pm

gannon wrote:Yeah, it's possible, even if it isn't all that practical.
I would base it off of those small "Computers on a chip" They only run around 30 mhz and use ext. ram, but they should work great for this application

True...On second thought, maybe if I made one, I should base it either on the Commodore line of computers or something. It is already chip based, and it may be possible to set it up to automatically read a cartridge medium.....

xxxeagle · Post by **xxxeagle** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:45 pm

what type of carts would you use on it is there a place to buy blank carts
or would you use memory sticks

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 8:53 pm

Well, I have an EPROM burner that can burn the kinds of EPROMs used to replace NES cartridge chips, so I can make 8-bit game carts probably. I also have a decent number of those chips.

Plus, those may be cheaper than memory sticks, and more likely to work. After all, we are talking about 1980s software. Memory sticks may be too new to work.

xxxeagle wrote:what type of carts would you use on it is there a place to buy blank carts
or would you use memory sticks

xxxeagle didnt log in · Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:53 am

yeah i agree memory sticks are expensive but i wonder if they could hold more than 1 game on them i guess it depends on how big the game is.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 11:59 am

It isn't just expense. It is also that memory sticks are newer technology and may not work well with a DOS/Commodore-based system.

xxxeagle didnt log in wrote:yeah i agree memory sticks are expensive but i wonder if they could hold more than 1 game on them i guess it depends on how big the game is.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 6:19 pm

MM007 wrote:Hello, I am an electronics guy who is starting to learn programming language(QuickBasic4.5) and i am wondering if I can use my EPROM burner to make a DOS-based primitive console that reads cartridges. Before I start trying to design it, I'd like to know if it is possible.

I don't know whether you would be able to use QBasic on something like what you're talking about, you may have to learn assembly.

You would probably be better off getting something like this http://www.xgamestation.com/ and playing around with it a bit before you try making one from scratch.

stereth · Post by **stereth** » Sun Sep 12, 2004 1:32 am

http://rabbitsemiconductor.com/

Might be tough to get your hands on those for an affordable price, but if you can get the tools, it's a very good device to work with. I had an engineering internship over the summer, and my coworkers swore by those chips.

The next generation rabbits will reportedly run on a 100mhz clock and have IDE support built in, with options for a small touch screen as well. I'd be excited to get my hands on one of those. DIY palm-size computer, anyone?

Edit: search around for the 'fox11.' It's a little thin for any emulation, but it's cheap and has a lot of options to play around with.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:25 pm

I might be getting a rabbit chip Iv;e been messing with a lot of my stuff. Right now I'm trying to make a programible coffemaker. Right now a 33mhz 486 is running it with a moded linux kernel. The problem is I have a computer next to it. If I could get ide and serial on the rabbit i can finally finish the dare I say. Uber-Coffe maker. It will make coffe at any time you want via the internet.

Post by **gannon** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:30 pm

Well I already have a programmable coffee machine, you just can't program it from the internet

Oh, and for mm007, you might be able to make some logic circuitry so you can use something like the ps2 memory card to store games.

Edit:
And if you're worried about the ps2 memory card not working, don't, Kevin Horton implemented the psone memory card with nes technology so I'm sure it'd be possible.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:33 pm

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.10/makeover.html
A bunch of cool computers (See the 2600?)

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:34 pm

Maybe i'll use a nano itx board instead.

HK-47 · Post by **HK-47** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:36 pm

http://www.mini-itx.com/
here's the store: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.a ... currency=2
They have EVERYTHING!

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:37 pm

but its not as cool as imbedded orocessor. But i don't know how to do it i'll check E-bay

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Homebrew game system?

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