General Arcade and Retro Chat - Insert Coin -

The Last Bandit wrote: »

See the FPGA isn't emulating the SH-2 core - its a cycle accurate simulation so should behave identically to the original chip. FPGA are commonly used now to replace obsolete ASICs, basically the original logic design at the gate level is reimplemented in the FPGA.

Emulating it on x86-64 chip is probably just a total b1tch of a job to get right and current CPU don't have the horsepower or more likely the investment to do it.

So is there coding involved at all in FPGA, I assume not if it's physical gate level simulation? If correct, how do they 'know' what to do...do they base it off a complete documentation of a chip, is it based off of decapping? I thought FPGA used hardware as a means to an end, but that hardware was still based off of a software engine? See the below from Byuu (author of Bsnes etc)

FPGA devices are emulators too. Nothing inherently makes FPGAs more accurate than software emulation

FPGAs, or field-programmable gate arrays, are components that are programmed through code written in languages such as Verilog or VHDL. This code tells the component how to operate, in the same way that C++ instructs a general purpose CPU how to operate.

How these two differ behind the scenes (logic gates versus microcode) is irrelevant to the end result: replicating the original hardware experience. Setting efficiency aside, there is absolutely nothing an FPGA can do that cannot be done in software.

He's phrased that very well and almost glosses over the critical part "Setting efficiency aside", to be anyway useful apart for academic research you can't really set aside efficiency and he dumbs down the the programming aspects.

I'd also argue that FPGA are simulators rather than emulators, subtle differences but different none-the-less.

Emulators aim to accurately model the external observable behaviour of the target, in this case a CPU, how it does it internally is irrelevant so long as the outward behaviour is correct.

Simulators model the internal workings & state of the target so that external behaviour is accurate.

Ya FPGA are also programmed through code (Verilog or VHDL), but the result of this (called a bitstream) is used to reconfigured the FPGA into whatever logic device you've create. A FPGA is basically (but not really) billions of unconnected logic gates and your bitstream tells the FPGA how to connect these gates up to make up logic you want to run and from then on its more or less the same as running native silicon. The quality of the simulation depends on how accurately the VHDL code models the target device.

Doing the same in C, C++ and running on a general purpose CPU is going to be so much more inefficient, when OS's, compilers etc have taken their toll hence why you need a powerful CPU to accurate emulate a 66C816 CPU.

In the case of the SNES, ya both can produce the exact same result , but it depends on what you want do next. Are you sitting at home want to play SNES and happen to own a decent PC or are you developing a consumer product to accurately play SNES games ( Super NT) ?

Cake of Tremendous Power wrote: »

Maybe I'm late to the party with this one but have ye heard of Fightcade before?
It seems like a great idea, enabling online multiplayer for games emulated by Final Burn Alpha.
https://play.fightcade.com/
As is tradition, roms aren't included in the download

So I just discovered this last night - I played through Knights of the Round with a guy from the Retro Asylum discord channel - it works great

Rename it Sonic 3.zip and see if it loads?

Cake of Tremendous Power wrote: »

No joy, No Archive Found error when I try. I'm trying to find info on what Standards were used for the Mega Drive but very little out there it seems

What emulator are you trying it on?

Cake of Tremendous Power wrote: »

Kega Fusion

Is it a release aimed at development or something? What does the nfo file say when you open it

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Careful now lads, while there's no links this is skating a tad close to rom talk rather than emulator talk, keep the rules in mind

No issue with the rules Cidey, but can you elaborate on where the issue is? https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055036214

Anyone watch Upgrade yet?
Even though it's a similar concept to RoboCop it's pretty unique in its delivery. Slow to start but picks up and interesting ending. Worth a watch.

Doge wrote: »

Anyone watch Upgrade yet?
Even though it's a similar concept to RoboCop it's pretty unique in its delivery. Slow to start but picks up and interesting ending. Worth a watch.

I really enjoyed it. Felt like a cyberpunk take on venom/Eddie Brock from spiderman myself

Ending was really good I thought. Well worth the watch

In a surprise move, SNK's mystery new game turns out to actually be a game. They're reviving Samurai Showdown. Colour me shocked.

There isn’t too much information about the newest title yet, but SNK expects to release it in 2019. Hopefully we’ll get more information at Tokyo Game Show next week, but barring that, expect to hear more about the game next year.

https://www.polygon.com/2018/9/10/17840860/samurai-shodown-ps4-tokyo-game-show-2018


Now patiently awaiting a Metal Slug 8 announcement.

Cake of Tremendous Power wrote: »

absolute lunacy imo.

+1 thats ridiculous

Haven't used the xRGB mini with the N64 but it works pretty great with most consoles.

I use it mostly for capturing though as I've plenty of CRTs now to run consoles on.

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Hate to say it, but emulation is probably the best way to play, as you can upscale, remove the vaseline from the lens and play at full NTSC speeds.

My thoughts exactly. If you're set on using original hardware, steer well clear of modern tv's if you don't have something like the xrgb mini. If you've no option of using a CRT, definitely investigate Retroarch with the mupen64plus core. You can increase the internal resolution of the games, thus making them look seriously nice on a modern tv (even 4k).

Can anyone point me in the direction of a site that shows Commodore 64 bundle variations such as the Terminator bundle, light fantastic etc.

Was in Skerries last night, walked into Bob's Casino on the strand to get an ice-cream and may as well have walked back into 1995. They had an upright Outrun running, as well Taito's Superman, Konami's Vendetta, Point Blank and a 2-player Sega Rally rig. Fascinated as to how much play they get, looks like they've not been moved in 20 years.

Last time I was there around 5 years ago they had a rare Sega discrete game called Monaco GP. (a 70's game no CPU type game that used discrete logic circuits - like pong).

It was still working and taking coins. Was it still there? Must be the only ones in the world at this stage still in service.

I remembered seeing it in mame a several years previous for a short time and it was removed from mame as they couldn't accurately emulate discrete games. Same reason pong is not in (official) mame.

Going to head out there on Saturday morning!

Cake of Tremendous Power wrote: »

If its meant to be it'll come up again. I like to remind my friend on a yearly basis about the time he talked me out of buying a Sonic Crackers proto for €250. Bastard

Any idea what they're going for now? I think mine was only about 200.