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A link to the actual repository if you don't like videos: https://github.com/lambertjamesd/portal64 https://github.com/lambertjamesd/portal64 Previously on HN:

A link to the actual repository if you don't like videos: https://github.com/lambertjamesd/portal64 https://github.com/lambertjamesd/portal64 Previously on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37381407 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37381407 (2023-09-04, 385 points) That demake does seem more like an (unofficial) port that preserves much of the original game play and style than most other demakes. (Disclaimer: I haven't actually played the game, I only watched videos.) How much would be achievable in the theory? Would it be only limited by the cartridge storage?

Cthulhu_ 3y ago
The N64 cartridges officially go up to 64 GB, whereas the original Portal looks to be about 5 GB in size, but that probably includes the Source engine; other sources say it's about 2 GB if you already have the engine installed. But the N64 version's assets will take up a lot less space, audio quality (if anything) can be dropped, etc. I'm sure they can make it fit.
- ageitgey 3y ago
  N64 carts only go up to 64 megabytes, not gigabytes.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - tivert 3y ago
    > N64 carts only go up to 64 megabytes, not gigabytes. I don't know anything specific about it, but given the cartridges were hardware, couldn't you theoretically bank switch to get any size you want?
    - anthk 3y ago
      And bankrupt yourself with 64 GB of banks because they were really expensive compared to just some CD's.
    - calamari4065 3y ago
      Yes, but bank switching isn't a magic bullet. The code that runs the engine and all core and currently active functions must be in the active bank at all times. You have to either segment your address space so part of each bank always points to the same memory, or duplicate code across every bank that needs it. Either way, your banks are now effectively much smaller than the real address space so you need more banks and more physical memory. Then you have to do a lot of work to actually manage those banks. Switching banks is kind of expensive, so you need to optimize your memory layout to minimize switching. Then you have to actually manage those banks at runtime. Really, it's impractical to have more than a few banks. Expanding the N64 out to 64GB is just ridiculous. At that point, you'd be better off putting a modern CPU in the cartridge, emulate the game, and just use the N64 as a glorified display adapter.
- leoc 3y ago
  Quake (1) is probably a useful comparison, especially since Source's actual game engine is directly descended from it. There was an N64 Quake port, and apparently https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/5x0ziv/comment/deefaf9/ https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/5x0ziv/c... https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/installation https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/installation a full PC install was a bit over 50MiB, overwhelmingly the PAK files.

Cthulhu_ 3y ago

The N64 cartridges officially go up to 64 GB, whereas the original Portal looks to be about 5 GB in size, but that probably includes the Source engine; other sources say it's about 2 GB if you already have the engine installed. But the N64 version's assets will take up a lot less space, audio quality (if anything) can be dropped, etc. I'm sure they can make it fit.

ageitgey 3y ago
N64 carts only go up to 64 megabytes, not gigabytes.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- tivert 3y ago
  > N64 carts only go up to 64 megabytes, not gigabytes. I don't know anything specific about it, but given the cartridges were hardware, couldn't you theoretically bank switch to get any size you want?
  - anthk 3y ago
    And bankrupt yourself with 64 GB of banks because they were really expensive compared to just some CD's.
  - calamari4065 3y ago
    Yes, but bank switching isn't a magic bullet. The code that runs the engine and all core and currently active functions must be in the active bank at all times. You have to either segment your address space so part of each bank always points to the same memory, or duplicate code across every bank that needs it. Either way, your banks are now effectively much smaller than the real address space so you need more banks and more physical memory. Then you have to do a lot of work to actually manage those banks. Switching banks is kind of expensive, so you need to optimize your memory layout to minimize switching. Then you have to actually manage those banks at runtime. Really, it's impractical to have more than a few banks. Expanding the N64 out to 64GB is just ridiculous. At that point, you'd be better off putting a modern CPU in the cartridge, emulate the game, and just use the N64 as a glorified display adapter.
leoc 3y ago
Quake (1) is probably a useful comparison, especially since Source's actual game engine is directly descended from it. There was an N64 Quake port, and apparently https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/5x0ziv/comment/deefaf9/ https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/5x0ziv/c... https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/installation https://www.quaddicted.com/quake/installation a full PC install was a bit over 50MiB, overwhelmingly the PAK files.