"Let's make GD ROM emulation happen" Facebook group.

Guys, while interesting this is secondary. What's important is having an interface to load games to begin with, then make GDDA work and then add game-specific features.

Again, great job cybdyn!

Any news from Ozone? Videos or something?

FG

 

+1

 

Hi, guys and gals,


I finally got the DCIO board programmed yesterday.

I managed to Flash the ARM chip correctly using the "bossac" program that is used by the Arduino software for the Arduino Due etc.

But, I couldn't get the SPI Flash chip (EPCS) for the FPGA to program correctly. Quartus just kept saying "Device signature not recognized".

Turned out to be a silly mistake on my part (usually is. lol) - I forgot to solder one of the 10K pull-up resistors on one the FPGA pins.

Anyway, it should be programmed now, I just need to solder the connector for the DC tonight then try some games.

Apologies again that it's taken me so long to get this far.
I'm still getting over an evil Man Flu that I've had for a month now, so I've been unable to do any soldering or anything.

cybdyn has been busy testing games, and adding to the DCIO firmware though, so it's still in progress.

He thought of the clever idea of allowing the standard ATA commands to be used for giving full access to the SD card.
All the CD / GD accesses are done via ATAPI / "SPI" commands of course, so it makes sense to use ATA for SD access.

This will keep it more compatible to the IDE / ATA code in KOS / Dreamshell, and there has also been excellent progress on that as well recently...

http://www.dc-swat.ru/forum/thread-2111-post-26695.html#pid26695

So looks like I'll need to get a big batch of new G1 IDE adapters made (with bug fixes / improvements).
That includes the fact that the old adapters didn't quite fit when the DC mobo was in the case.

The IDE adapters with Dreamshell will be an alternative to the DCIO, but the DCIO will certainly be the most compatible and we hope to add CDDA support soon.

(Playback of CDDA tracks may even be possible under Dreamshell, but it will be a huge programming challenge tbh.)


So, just grabbing some food, then it's time to solder the connector to the DCIO.
cybdyn has sent me new e-mail replies and code as well, so I need to catch up with that.


Regards,
OzOnE.

 

Deunan delivered, yay !

http://gdemu.wordpress.com/

 

Oh well. A bit of "healthy competition" I suppose. lol

Again, just a tad strange that he wants to release his GDEMU now after all this time, and after he said many months ago that he doesn't condone "piracy" with the device and wouldn't be releasing it publicly. hehe

Good point about the game selection though - I forgot that almost every game will return to the DC menu if the tray is opened.

The DCIO will use a proper on-screen menu for game selection of course, so there won't be any buttons hanging out of your DC.
You may have to power the DC off-and-on to get back to the game menu though. We haven't worked that part out yet.

€100 price tag for the GDEMU isn't too bad I guess, but we may be able to beat that slightly as well.

OzOnE.

 

He says the remote is in the v4 (prototype), but the v5 boards will have a button on the PCB instead; he also mentions that there will be a game selection menu as well, it's all in his last post.

 

Yup - - dropped him an email as per his ordering instructions.

Bit skeptical - - it is April 1, after all - - everything appears to be in order, however . . .

100 Euros - - current quoted price **without** shipping. That's about $138 USD, and I estimate the international shipping will be around $25 USD.

No clear production or shipping schedule yet, but that's okay.

I look forward to testing ALL of the devices produced this year - - I'll support 'em all!

AWESOME! Glad you are feeling better, getting sick is no fun . . . I'm nursing a cold right now, myself, and it's consuming my will to live . . .

Look forward to seeing some demos! Thanks for your hard work on your device!

The integration with SWAT's efforts is a HUGE plus-plus in my book. Based on that, I'm sure there will be some great, practical built-in features that we all will enjoy!

 

Some questions

1) VA0 and VA1 revision all have plastic gdrom connectors?
2) VA2 have only ribbon gdrom cable connector?

in deunan site they mention that the VA2 is not compatible i suspect that is the ribbon cable and/or the mil-cd removal also he says that VA0 is compatible but it can damage the console so what is the difference between VA0-VA1? and do you have any thoughts?

 

Sadly no GUI.

As far as I understand Dreamshell will support Ozone and Cybdyn device and not this one (or the other way around).

 

Dunno! His wordpress site is the current source for information, and he appears to be slowly updating and filling in the gaps there.

From what I read - -

- NONE of the "v5" models that he will be selling have a ribbon connector. It's all on the board, and it's all accessible by opening the lid.

- Correct, I read that too, the unit is only compatible with VA0 and VA1, no VA2 support. I think you are correct, it's a physical fit issue, not hardware/software.

Yup, that's what I am understanding, too. Deunan is "working on" some sort of menu, but it's "not a priority."

For that reason I am VERY excited to see Ozone and Cybdyn's device - - their collaboration with SWAT makes their project feel like more of a community work, and one that will see further development and refinement in years to come.

Looking forward to seeing your next steps, Ozone and Cybdyn! (Oh, and I know Mario is out there somewhere, too, working away on his device . . . how's that going?)

 

This is some of the most epic news I have read in a looong time. Great work both by deunian and Cybdyn/Ozone! Keep up the good work! Will order from the first one to either have integration with DreamShell or game selection from GUI!

 

From Deunan Blog:

• GDEMU is compatbile with VA1 model Dreamcasts from all regions

IMPORTANT: VA2 model is not compatible. Mating GDEMU with VA0 model mainboard is possible but will cause permanent damage to the device. See installation instructions.

Before you start:
Make sure your Dreamcast is VA1 model. The best way would be to disassemble it and read the description on the mainboard, next to pad ports. Another good method is to check the single digit in a circle, next to the region designation on the back sticker:





If it says “1″, you have a VA1 model. You can further confirm that after removing the upper cover, the GD-ROM drive assembly should be stamped with “3.3Vâ€￾.

Gdemu therefore is only compatible with a Dreamcast VA1 !

 

Lack of a menu is a non-starter for me. What amazes me most is that he wouldn't agree to sell the design to Stone Age Gamer, who could have mass-produced them to the world far easier.

Anyway, with the upcoming Dreamshell, I wonder if SWAT will improve it so much that the Serial SD reader many of us have will suddenly become very effective? Ha ha ha.

 

support will come.

 

voltage issue : VA0 is 5v, VA1 3.3v.

Keep up the good work Cybdyn/Ozone! I am on GDEmu waiting list but I'll buy DCIO too

 

Unlikely - it's just not fast enough.

 

These wouldn't be able to be VA2 compatible. In the VA2 the entire GD-ROM controller is integrated into the motherboard and the ribbon cable just goes to the motor/sled/lens for the CD reading assembly. On VA0 and VA1, you are replacing that controller entirely, with VA2, that's not possible.

 

Thanks for the info! So the v0 and v1 can be supported together but deunan don't make the proper work I thing that it is not hard to make an universal model to detect if voltage is 5v and regulate it to 3.3v correct me if I am wrong.

 

I'm still here! I finished the PCB layout a while ago, but I've been busy and haven't had time to double-check it before sending it out. My coworker was going to review it as well. Hopefully that can happen soon.

 

It's like waiting for a bus... you wait an hour and then three come along at once!

This really is impressive, I wonder who'll (a) be the first out the door and (b) which one will be best?

Good times for the humble DC - and thanks to all the teams involved.