What I mean is is it possible to make an LCD screen, on a Genesis 1st gen specifically, display the game title of the cartridge inserted? Like by making it read the ROM Header perhaps? I think the header is in the same spot on all the ROMs but I've really no idea. I know it seems pointless but I have an LCD and nothing to do with it.
Heh, I'd agree with the pointless thing! Sounds rather costly just to use up a spare component. I don't really think it would be worth the time or effort.
Is it a simple fixed-width text screen? If so, it's probably a HD44780 compatible screen, you can control them easily with a microcontroller. With a PIC/AVR wired to the cartridge, it's possible. But not a good first project. Forget about using the screen if it's color or is a graphic type.
It's HD44780 compatible. Would it have to be wired to a cart, or could it be done on the motherboard?
I wouldn't call this a very worthwhile project. There are a few methods to do this: - you could use a microcontroller but decode the bits of the address separately since most microcontrollers don't have that sort of I/O.The MCU would then either have to be interrupted or poll the high address bit for a match then it would have to watch the lower address bits of the header. Again the lack of I/O would probably require you to shift in data, so the MCU would have to run EXTREMELY fast. -You could modify the console so that the MCU can play with the cart and hold the console in reset while it does so. -You could interface a MCU with the console via I/O and a BIOS ROM. This would work best IMO but require the most logic. If you're already using this much logic, it might be best to only use logic to interface with the LCD.
