AVS - New hardware based NES/Famicom console being released.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1259517


This is a console that has NES/Famicom built together with the NES side being hardware based and not software emulation.

It has a HDMI port and a 4 score built in. Compaitible with Everdrives.

 

I heard about this a while back. I'm interested considering the claim of 100% compatibility and the fact that it's using an FPGA instead of just a NOAC chip.

 

I wonder if people will consider this over Hi Def Nes. Hi Def cost + install cost will be more than 185.

 

Its still emulation, just at a lower level.

 

Thats pretty darn cool looking.
Probably will buy one.

 

No, it's not emulation.

Do you consider a NOAC to be emulation?

 

Yes, because it's "emulating" the nintendo hardware.

 

It's not emulating the hardware, it is the hardware recreated in a modern chip. Down to each gate etc.

It's not taking instructions and converting them to run on a different architecture etc.

It's like saying if someone cloned the original chips - is that emulation? Was amd "emulating" Intel processors or did they just make one that ran the same code?

I can see your point, but I believe the difference is significant.

 

No, because the x86 architecture for the most part is an open standard. So as long as AMD follows the standard, the results would be the same whether code was executed on an Intel or AMD chip.

Such is NOT the case with the NES processor.

Straight from the article from OP.

"While the NES processor (called the 6502) is still manufactured and used today for many purposes, this particular product (the AVS) doesn't use it. It uses a piece of hardware called a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which is an integrated circuit that can be programmed through firmware to mimic something else.

That's why some folks are referring to the AVS as hardware-based emulation. To some extent that's true, but I think that characterization minimizes the unprecedented accuracy we can expect to see from it."

"Yep, speed is fine. It's still hardware, just programmed to behave like the exact model of 6502 used. If you used a "modern" 6502 the quirks might not be the same, and the FPGA also offers the flexibility to add features that weren't on the original hardware."

Now if we Google the definition for emulation "Emulation is the effort to act like someone else...", and compare that to the last part of the first quoted statement above "...which is an integrated circuit that can be programmed through firmware to mimic something else.". You will see why its emulation.

 

Also, I'm not trying to say that its a bad thing because honestly if the shape was square I'd definitely buy one to replace my Famicom.

I think in general people pair emulation with a 'sub par' experience and thats not necessarily the case. Even if they manged to "mimic" the NES processor with 100% accuracy, it would still be emulation by definition because its an FPGA and not a 6502.

 

For those that didn't scroll through the thread linked. The AVS gets it's name and inspiration for it's device from the Pre-NES US famicom model which was called AVS.

 

So they are even saying that saying it's an emulator does it an injustice.

The original post said:

You then replied with "its still emulation" like hardware and software emulation are the same thing.

Emulation being a synonym of copy, doesn't mean it's the correct use. You can copy something, but you wouldn't call it an emulation.

Call it hardware emulation if you must. But saying "its still emulation" in response to someone saying its not software emulation is incorrect in my opinion (and seemingly the creators too).


Another question, is an eprom an emulation of a rom?

 

Besides, all emulators aren't bad. The PS1 emulator in PS2 and PS3 has almost 100 percent compatibility. And these guys are claiming 100 percent compatibility so I don't think we have anything to worry about.

 

PS1 emulator on the PS3 is not that great

 

This is off topic but PS1 emulation on the PS3 is almost perfect. Also PSP emulation is pretty good on it too.

Also @Bad_Ad84, give up, this IS emulation.

 

Have you played Spyro on PS3, far from perfect, audio is all fucked :/

 

Technically both are right and wrong. We actually shouldn't call "software emulation" emulation at all. Emulation means to copy/mirror. All software emulation (execpt for a few) aren't an exact copy. So calling something emulation would mean that its an EXACT copy. So calling this AVS emulation would be a good thing. We should be calling software emu's something else or simply "software emulation" which refers to something of lesser of just emulation. Software emulation has just down played the word emulation.

In the public eye emulation is considered bad. Thats why @Bad_Ad84 is saying we shouldn't call this emulation because its not on the same level. In a perfect world we should be calling this AVS "emulation" and all other non exact emulation called "semi-emulation".

 

I've played tons of PS1 games on PS3 but never gave Spyro a try. Do you mind telling the exact version? Which spyro game? Eur or US?
Really off-topic but I've found out that Brain Dead doesn't run very well on SCPH-100X PS1. I'm wondering how well it would perform on the PS3.

 

Yeah a bit off topic, I can't quite remember although my PS3 is definitely PAL Spyro might be US version

 

No their not, they are saying "to some extent its true"

No, emulation being an "effort to act like someone/something else", as its defined.

Hardware and software emulation are the same thing, its just handled at different layers. But the underlying task is the same.