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How to Program an NES game in C

99 points by janvdberg 11y ago

dpflan 11y ago
If you're interested in programming Gameboy Advance games: While in college, one intro course on lower-level computer programming had a few projects for programming for a Gameboy Advance emulator. This site was heavily used for reference and guidance: http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm Also, here are some materials (from the course) and even examples of created projects: _ Related Course Materials 1. Main Reference: http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm 2. GBA Installation: https://github.com/nuppan/Georgia-Tech/tree/master/2nd%20Year/CS%202110/Linux%20Assignments/CS2110/GBA%20Installation https://github.com/nuppan/Georgia-Tech/tree/master/2nd%20Yea... 2. Another site: http://www.loirak.com/gameboy/gbatutor.php http://www.loirak.com/gameboy/gbatutor.php _ Projects 1. "Duckhunt" - https://github.com/jabelman/duck_hunt-gba https://github.com/jabelman/duck_hunt-gba 2. "Pacman" - https://github.com/zjhzyyk/gba-pacman https://github.com/zjhzyyk/gba-pacman 3. Video of "The Snuggler" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxnEY3RRPp4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxnEY3RRPp4 4. Video of "Samurai Jack" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgIeKCxAfSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgIeKCxAfSk
sdegutis 11y ago
Is it possible to somehow "copy" an NES game that you've compiled onto a real NES cartridge so that it can be played on a real NES? That could make this an incredibly fun hobby. Especially as a parent of kids who actually enjoy NES and SNES games.
- dpflan 11y ago
  This seems like a good resource: http://callanbrown.com/index.php/basic-nes-reproduction http://callanbrown.com/index.php/basic-nes-reproduction
- aji 11y ago
  The NES EverDrive is probably a good bet: http://shop.krikzz.com/EverDrive-N8-NES-EDN8NES.htm http://shop.krikzz.com/EverDrive-N8-NES-EDN8NES.htm
- edlinfan 11y ago
  The simplest way to deploy your homebrew ROMs to a real NES is to use something called a "flash cartridge"[1]. This is equivalent to a real NES cartridge except it is backed by rewritable flash memory instead of a permanent ROM. It contains all of the necessary glue logic[2] so the console can't tell the difference. You can rewrite the flash if you connect the cart to your computer via USB. The magical thing to google if you want to do your own research is "NES flash cart". The "EverDrive" that aji suggests is, indeed, an example of a flash cart. It may or may not be the best one for the NES - I honestly don't know, all of my experience is with the GameBoy. dpflan's approach of erasing and reprogramming a REAL NES cart is also possible, if you enjoy pain and suffering in the name of being lavishly historically accurate. (I know I do sometimes.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_cartridge [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_management_controller
- dustmop 11y ago
  Yes, a few folks in the NES homebrew scene have managed it. Here's a cartridge my team released this year: http://starversus.com http://starversus.com (currently sold out, hope to have more soon) and there's many more at RetroUSB: http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?cPath=30&osCsid=ff2d40cb263f5d9bc0cdda412fc833f6 http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?cPath=30&osCsid=ff2d40cb26...
- mikejmoffitt 11y ago
  For testing, some of the available flash or RAM cartridges are good bets. For distributing in small hand-built volumes, an NES cartridge is really just some parallel storage for the 6502 CPU(be it an EPROM, or a FLASH 29-series ROM (easier)) and another chip for the CHR graphics on the PPU bus (a similar ROM). RAM may be used in place of CHR ROM, and bankswitching "mappers" are commonplace, as the 6502 can not address much as-is.

99 points by janvdberg 11y ago

If you're interested in programming Gameboy Advance games: While in college, one intro course on lower-level computer programming had a few projects for programming for a Gameboy Advance emulator. This site was heavily used for reference and guidance: http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm Also, here are some materials (from the course) and even examples of created projects: _ Related Course Materials 1. Main Reference: http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm http://www.coranac.com/tonc/text/toc.htm 2. GBA Installation: https://github.com/nuppan/Georgia-Tech/tree/master/2nd%20Year/CS%202110/Linux%20Assignments/CS2110/GBA%20Installation https://github.com/nuppan/Georgia-Tech/tree/master/2nd%20Yea... 2. Another site: http://www.loirak.com/gameboy/gbatutor.php http://www.loirak.com/gameboy/gbatutor.php _ Projects 1. "Duckhunt" - https://github.com/jabelman/duck_hunt-gba https://github.com/jabelman/duck_hunt-gba 2. "Pacman" - https://github.com/zjhzyyk/gba-pacman https://github.com/zjhzyyk/gba-pacman 3. Video of "The Snuggler" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxnEY3RRPp4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxnEY3RRPp4 4. Video of "Samurai Jack" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgIeKCxAfSk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgIeKCxAfSk

sdegutis 11y ago

Is it possible to somehow "copy" an NES game that you've compiled onto a real NES cartridge so that it can be played on a real NES? That could make this an incredibly fun hobby. Especially as a parent of kids who actually enjoy NES and SNES games.

dpflan 11y ago
This seems like a good resource: http://callanbrown.com/index.php/basic-nes-reproduction http://callanbrown.com/index.php/basic-nes-reproduction
aji 11y ago
The NES EverDrive is probably a good bet: http://shop.krikzz.com/EverDrive-N8-NES-EDN8NES.htm http://shop.krikzz.com/EverDrive-N8-NES-EDN8NES.htm
edlinfan 11y ago
The simplest way to deploy your homebrew ROMs to a real NES is to use something called a "flash cartridge"[1]. This is equivalent to a real NES cartridge except it is backed by rewritable flash memory instead of a permanent ROM. It contains all of the necessary glue logic[2] so the console can't tell the difference. You can rewrite the flash if you connect the cart to your computer via USB. The magical thing to google if you want to do your own research is "NES flash cart". The "EverDrive" that aji suggests is, indeed, an example of a flash cart. It may or may not be the best one for the NES - I honestly don't know, all of my experience is with the GameBoy. dpflan's approach of erasing and reprogramming a REAL NES cart is also possible, if you enjoy pain and suffering in the name of being lavishly historically accurate. (I know I do sometimes.) [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_cartridge [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_management_controller
dustmop 11y ago
Yes, a few folks in the NES homebrew scene have managed it. Here's a cartridge my team released this year: http://starversus.com http://starversus.com (currently sold out, hope to have more soon) and there's many more at RetroUSB: http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?cPath=30&osCsid=ff2d40cb263f5d9bc0cdda412fc833f6 http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?cPath=30&osCsid=ff2d40cb26...
mikejmoffitt 11y ago
For testing, some of the available flash or RAM cartridges are good bets. For distributing in small hand-built volumes, an NES cartridge is really just some parallel storage for the 6502 CPU(be it an EPROM, or a FLASH 29-series ROM (easier)) and another chip for the CHR graphics on the PPU bus (a similar ROM). RAM may be used in place of CHR ROM, and bankswitching "mappers" are commonplace, as the 6502 can not address much as-is.