Atomic Meltdown PSX Homebrew game . . . need thoughts/opinions

Hey Guys,

I'm new to this website, however I'm not new to the homebrew scene, just new to the PSX homebrew scene.

I have a homebrew game that I had been working on for the Atari 2600 called Atomic Meltdown. I never finished it but it's close, all it needed was sound, however it's a massive game, and there was plenty of "other" in game things I wanted to add however the Atari 2600 just doesn't have the hardware to do what I had envisioned for this game.

I plan on using Tails92 PSXSDK to make this game. Its my hope the using his PSXSDK will help him further develop it and I can start making some basic documentation for other people such as simple tutorials that will help spur other PSX Homebrew projects.

This will be a slow and a major learning curve for me, but I figured it might help PSX Homebrew scene and at the same time help show what Tails92 PSXSDK can do.

Thoughts and opinions are well!!!

Thanks
Disjaukifa

*EDIT* I've attached my latest build of Atomic Meltdown for the Atari 2600. *EDIT*

 

Just a quick update. I'm currently working on installing PSXSDK on my Macbook Air with 10.6 Snow Leopard.

I download the source from tails92 google project site and I'm in the process of getting it all installed now. I've had to download the MacPorts to install binutils and gcc, however once that is down and configured correctly, I'm positive I'll be able to do all my programming on my Mac.

I rather not use a Windows XP VM, however if I need to I will. I will post updates once I get this done.

Again any thoughts on Atomic Meltdown are welcome. I think I'm going to start off with the snake game that tails92 included and strip the code down to basically where I started Atomic Meltdown for the Atari 2600.

If people are interested, I'd be more than willing to post the game binary as I get certain aspects of the game done.

Just let me know.

Thanks
Disjaukifa

 

Sounds interesting, best of luck with it.

Anyhoo wouldn't it save you a lot of grief if you just made a bootcamp partition for win xp?

 

Yes and No. I have a Rev A. Macbook Air which Windows XP doesn't seem to like. I use VM all the time that I remote too, I have a Mac Mini Server (newest model) that runs 10.6 with at least a Ubuntu and Windows XP VMs running constantly. It would be easy enough to make another XP VM however, I'd to see if I can just do it all through Mac OS X for several reasons.

1st. I don't have to figure out file sharing and folder sharing through VMs though its not difficult, I don't have to worry about it when its just on my Macbook.

2nd. Easier to back data, though it just one less step.

3rd. Someone else might come along thats a Mac User and want to do some PSX dev work, but doesn't have access to a Windows XP License, etc. It always annoys me when I see software that is written for Windows AND Linux but there isn't anything for the Mac. Starting with 10.5, Mac OS X IS Unix, so anything that you have the source for in linux can be re-compiled and built for Mac OS X, its not always a straight forward process but it can be done.

-Disjaukfia

 

Good luck. I hope you succeed and it is the start of even more PS1 homebrew. I think the PS1 really should have gotten a better homebrew scene than it did. Particularly with how easy it is to run unlicensed software on it combined with how available platforms that play PS1 software are.

 

I totally agree, its never easy to run unlicensed software, but its also a great system to develop for from what I've seen. Think about it the medium is just CDs, which are dirt cheap, but it has enough power to do some really neat stuff graphically.

I have several game ideas for the Playstation but they are all simple and I know my limitations, I know I'm not the worlds gift to programmers, I know I'm about average, maybe not even that, their are people that know WAY more about programming than I ever well.

Honestly I don't even know C, but I know Java, and they are similar enough that picking up C will not be difficult, I already know the basic syntax and the formatting which is the majority of the battle in my opinion.

One of my goals in life is to write a video game, I basically had it down with my Atomic Meltdown with the Atari 2600 but its not complete and its only one level.

To re-write that game for the Playstation is going to be very simple honestly, especially if I keep the game play and graphics the same, which I probably will do till I get all the game mechanics finished, then I'll start polishing the graphics, sound, etc and start designing levels for it as well.

-Disjaukifa

 

*UPDATE* While I haven't started actually writing ANY code yet for Atomic Meltdown, I hit a major milestone! I have the PSXSDK working on Mac OS X 10.6. I've been emailing tails92 and I'm going to work on compressing the Mac OS X toolchain and have it posted on his google project website.

I need to make a couple of changes and I'm probably going to write a guide for users who want to do it manually, however I was able to compile and build his PSXSnake example.

I'll keep everyone update as I get further and further with progress.

Thanks
Disjaukifa

 

Maybe you're confused or I am, but I was saying it is easy to run unlicensed software on PS1. Swap tricks and modchips for it are terribly easy to come by and cheap.

But you're right it seems like a good system to develop for. I don't think there is anything terribly wonky about it.

 

I don't know what I was trying to say there honestly. Yeah I meant I was surprised there ISN'T a homebrew scene such it is so EASY to run unlicensed software on the playstation.

I'm hoping with the PSXSDK and this game I'm writing might help change that.

-Disjaukifa