GameCube Dev (Viewing Apps/Games)

Hey:

I have both an GDEV and DDH, I am wanting to show a few things to some people but I do not want to lug around my PC with either the GDEV or DDH, is there anyway possible that you can launch an app from a GDEV or DDH without needing a PC to start them?

I also have the SD Launcher app for a regular GameCube to load up my own .DOL files, but since my apps read data off a disc (or emulated disc), that is not a good solution for me.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Jeff.

 

Simple answer is no.

 

Is there a complicated answer yes? .... What about using a laptop to initiate the app/game?

 

well, u can always use the NPDP interface with the GDEV.

you d need a gang-writer though, since the GDEV has no write function to the NPDP-drive.

You basically create a disc layout file and its contents in one of the four image slots of the NPDP cart. Not certain if u can use 48MB in this mode.

 

Not possible, as the app(s) are in effect talking to the PCI > SCSI bus / EMU H/W, which will be 'missing' on the laptop.

 

So the easiest way.... or only way is to lug my PC in, with my DDH or GDEV and do it that way.... UGH!!!

Jeff.

 

I'm suprised there is no way to run an iso off an sd card yet.
Why can't you add sd card support to your app? I thought there was a library that would allow it.

 

If you've got the cash (and time to do more research on this than I have), you could try one of these...

http://www.magma.com/products/pci/1PCI/index.html

It's an external chasis in which to host a PCI card, ie your ODEM / Merlin card in this case, and connect it to your laptop via a PCMCIA card and extension cable. Not the most portable of solutions I'll grant you that, but it can't be any worse than lugging your desktop around with ya.

I'd be interested to know more about these things myself, so if you manage to find cheaper alternatives, please post them here ;0)

 

smf:

The GameCube doesn't have an SD slot (unless your talking about the Memory Card thing that allows the SD card... which I cannot use for this demonstration).... I could use a Memory Card, but I can't get my files onto the memory card and I'm not sure if that would even work.

jdc:

Thanks for the link!! awesome.... I'd rather not spend 1k, but it sure is tempting, I'll have to see how badly I want to do this (assuming this will work)

thanks guys
Jeff.

 

doesn't anyone pay attention to what I say? for portability you have the NPDP interface.

 

what is the NPDP interface?

 

the GDEV is officially called the GCT-0100

the NPDP part in NPDP-GDEV stands for the NPDP interface. (the acronym may stand for Nintendo Portable Drive Pak)

The NPDP interface is a special interface found on:

a) GDEV

b) GBOX

c) NPDP console

and consists of a slot on the machine-side , and a cartridge enclosing special circuitry (including a hitachi SH3 processor) and an IDE hard drive.

The NPDP Cartridge can hold up to 4 x 1.5GB images, equal to having four GameCube .gcm files (master disk files).

The NPDP interface is used for Optical Disk Emulation (O.D.EM - not to be confused with the ODEM PCI board, part of the GDEV set) and serves the same purpose (almost) as the ODEM PCI interface, with the difference that you do not need a host computer to stream the image.

The ODEM process is managed inside the cartridge, emulating all necessary functions automatically (the PCI ODEM board is guided by the DLF file)


The NPDP interface is inteded for demonstration purposes and testing and its most portable form can be found when combining an NPDP-Console (Pink Gamecube with Cart.slot) with an NPDP-cart.

.

As usual, real-time debug can be monitored through the serial port , over RS-232, when using a GDEV or GBOX (and a terminal application such as Hyper Terminal or other debug apps).

The only way to view debug information when using an NPDP-console is to use the IS-DOL VIEWER attachment (it looks like a gameboy player).

It should be noted that no one has ever spotted an IS-DOL VIEWER in the wild or in any studios as far as I am aware. Also, this item was never available in the dev.kit brochure handed out to developers unlike the aforementioned.

That said, more information about the IS-DOL VIEWER can be found on the japanese website of Intelligent Systems.

 

Nice link m8, very handy to know :nod:

 

Yep can vouch for that as I have been looking for that little maroon piece of kit since I became aware of it. Looks like a Gameboy Player, but in metal. Interesting information however Barc0dio :thumbsup:

 

*Throws his IS-DOL Viewer in the bin*

 

You don't do you? Kept that quiet!

 

If OE had an IS-DOL VIEWER I d visit his website everday just to watch the picture but does he?

 

Isn't the IS-DOL Viewer just software? Or is there a hardware piece to it?

 

There's H/W to go with the S/W, it clips in the bottom of the GC to give you USB connection to a Dev P.C, much like a TDEV.

 

Elusive as ever, there was no confirmation of whether OE actually owns the hardware part of it - sly old fox you! ;-)