Saturn Optical Drive Emulator

Are you planning on selling these directly, or are you partnering with someone who already has a supply chain?

 

I want it even more now!!

Hm... If this will put a lot of work to you, it's better to drop this idea and use your power to important things, like improve the compatibility list of the Virtual Memory Cartridge, or to create a nice loader for the Satisfier.

Panzer Dragoon Saga is not compatible with the Virtual Memory Cartridge!? Blasphemy!!! I don't want it anymore... BURN!!

It's a lie... I still want it!! LOL

...but not for now...

Okay!!

Okay #2!!

So, it's nice I still have both games with their respective cartridges!!

That's it!! Each game have their own Virtual Memory Cartridge. And this answer my question!!

And there's an option to make selected games to share the same Virtual Memory Cartridge? It's will be very usefull with games who search data from the saves of other games, like the Panzer Dragoon series, or the Shining Force III games.

LOL... I'll have a lot of SATISFACTION with it!!

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Sorry for the delay.

It's not a lot of work, but priority for this task is low, and I need to do cheat codes and game selection menu (for Satisfier and Rhea/Phoebe) first. Code structure and UI for both are 90% done, and remaining is reverse engineering stuff, a bit boring, and probably tricky but I will do it

That's one of the few games not working with CWX loader ... I need to add Virtual Memory Cart for JHL loader, but that's more complex than I though (JHL loader calls BIOS functions, which call for soft reset functions, which wipe Virtual Memory Cart enable stuff, and avoiding this seems tricky as hell), but since it's still possible to use internal memory, and backup/restore internal memory saves from Pseudo Saturn Kai, this doesn't has a lot of interest, hence priority for this is low.

At current time, yes.
And some games using extra RAM aren't fully compatible with Action Replay (typical example is Metal Slug), so using offical cartridge is recommended.

I think there's a misunderstanding : all saves from Virtual Memory Cartridge are stored in the same folder, hence visible from all games.
I can add a feature to select Virtual Memory Cartridge, but I think that may confuse the user without bringing valuable stuff.
And, as you said, some games check for saves from other games (example : Policenauts), and multi-CD games do this too (example : Shining Force 3 ... well, not "multi CD", but full story spans over 3 CDs).

Erf, I found somebody crazier than me

 

No problem!!

Super-High priority over Satisfier and Rhea/Phoebe, please!! I would die if your loaders for them could make use of a visual menu, like displaying covers, easy menu to navegate, between other things...

No problem... Priorities first!!

"At current time"? Do you hiding something?

It's not fault of the Action Replay. The reason some sprites got broken is because some games have incompatibility with the 4Mb RAM. I know this because I lived that moment.

SNK games for Saturn who askes the 1MB CARTRIDGE have this incompatibility if you try to use the 4MB CARTRIDGE. I remember the characters sprites of Metal Slug, The King of Fighters' 97 and Samurai Shodown IV get messed when I used the 4Mb cartridge.

My luck is I have some 3rd party expansion cartridges (two cartridges, in fact) who have switches who let me select if I want to use 1Mb mode or 4Mb mode (there's other switches, but I have no clue the effects because I don't know... er... chinese?). They works perfectly in both modes. So, no incompatibility issues.

So I missed something there.

In my mind, the Virtual Memory Backup creates a file who works as the Internal Saturn Memory, and another file who works as the Backup Cartridge. So, any game you load will make use of these files, who emulate both Internal Memory and Backup cartridge. With this idea in my mind, I came with the suggestion to add an option who let the cartridge to create the save files to be used with just one particular game. It's like the same way used by Wii's Nintendon's Memory Card Emulation, who let the user select if the loader will create a Memory Card file who will be shared for all games, of create a Memory Card file for each game.

So... You are saying the VMC is, in fact, a folder, and not a file. And each save file is storaged as a individual file. It's correct? So, if I want to backup a particular save, I just need to copy the file.

WAIT!! I think I saw this way somewhere... I think it was in the SSF emulator. In the options menu, there's an option called Hook Backup Library at the "Program4" tab. If this option is unchecked, the saves are stored at the InternalBackup.bin and ExternalBackup.bin files. And if this option is checked, the saves are stored separadly at the backup folder.

Resuming... I was thinking the Gamer's Cartridge works "with the Hook Backup Libraty unchecked", but, in fact, it works with "this option checked".

Policenauts checks saves of other games? TELL ME MORE!!

I know Sakura Taisen 2 check the save of the first game. At the begining of the game, there's an option where Ikki Yoneda asks to Ichiro Ogami which team's member who most remain in his heart. If you select a girl who you finished in the previous game, a scene of the ending with that girl comes in flashback. If you not had finished with that girl or don't have the first game save, that scene is skipped.

I know Panzer Dragoon II Zwei and Panzer Dragoon Saga checks the save of each other too.

Crazy!? It's my normal!! My crazy momments are something like THIS!!

And, by the way, that pic was not my first option, once I was inclined to use THIS PIC or THIS PIC... But I prefer to avoid any problem with the adms because they can understand it's some kind of "mature content".

 

Menu actually has priority over cheat codes, but visual things will be done later. At first, I need to get a proper compatibility with ODEs

Not really, but making a "all in one" cartridge is technically possible (example : wasca project), so I used such fuzzy expression in the case somebody would read my post in the future.

Action Replay carts are sold as featuring "1MB/4MB expansion RAM", so that's a problem on Action Replay hardware or marketing side if theses are not able to handle properly games designed for 1MB carts only.

Edit (2016/12/11) from informations by my friend Darius : Action Replay maker did initially supported 1MB/4MB RAM expansion.
Then, they made some cost-down revision of the PCB around 2012, which supported 4MB RAM expansion only. This last for around a couple of years, but then reverted to initial PCB revision (probably because of claims from resellers and users).
It is possible to verify if your cartridge supports both 1MB mode with Real Boot Fatal Fury 1st edition (not the special one) and starting a fight between Terry Bogard et Kim Kaphman : if your cartridge doesn't features 1MB mode, then Kim Kaphman won't be displayed correctly.

Yes, backup a save data is only simple as copying a file
And save data internal save memory are saved to ... internal save memory Among other things, this allows to copy saves from internal memory to VMC.
This remembers me I should add a "backup internal save memory on each startup" feature on Pseudo Saturn Kai. This is not so difficult to add, and allows to keep a backup of save data, even if CR2032 battery dies.

Remark : if you want to add a file to VMC's saves folder you need to delete the .IDX (index) file in the saves folder after copying a save file on it. And on next startup of VMC, index will be rebuilt with consideration of save file(s) manually added.
Index file indicates which file is assigned to which save slot, hence allows to keep data of previous saves, which is convenient when game has only few save slots, but you want to keep track of previous (overwritten) save states.

It's around 10 years I didn't used SSF, but the "Hook Backup Library" thing looks very similar

There's an easter egg that can be triggered when you have a save data of Tokimeki Memorial completed. I don't remember exactly what that easter egg does, it's probably just the matter of changing few dialogues, but it does something

Good old times when I watched cartoons on TV. No youtube at that time, so it was possible only once a week (Sunday ?) IIRC ^^

 

WOW!! Super amazing!! Add cheat codes can be usefull in some cases to change some game's codes to increase game's compatibily with both ODEs and Gamer's Cartridge.

By the way, this makes me remember about a video who shows RADIANT SILVERGUN IN 704x224, by using an Action Replay code to force the game to run in this resolution (not a successful result in fact). So, as the Sega Saturn can run games using progressive mode up to 704x240 (704x256 in PAL), and interlaced mode up to 704x480 (704x512 in PAL), the question is: Between the cables avaiable for it (officials and customs), the console have some way to output video signal in its native resolutions? Because there's no point to make a console run in high resolutions if the machine can't output video signal in equal resolution...

And, by the way (again), which screen resolution the loaders you are programming for the ODEs make use?

WOW²!! I didn't knew about this project!! I'll keep my eye on it!! Add switchs to the cartridge (or even a software menu) would be very useful to select as the cartridge will work (1Mb RAM, 4Mb RAM, Backup Cartridge, etc...).

But it could be even more interesting if it could have a code who can make the cartridge works togheter with the ODE's loaders. So, the user could configure the loader to send a command to the cartridge (after the ODE's loader check the presence of this particular cartridge) to make it work in a specific mode always a specific game is loaded. Example: If Pocket Fighter in on the ODE's loader list, the user can call a menu to make the cartridge enter in 4Mb mode every time this game is loaded.

I even know if it's possible or not to make the loader check the presence of a particular cartridge, or if is possible to make an all-purpose cartridge who can switch the function by internal commands... Take this just as an idea.

It's was a mistake because the producers thought 4Mb can handle 1Mb of data, and they don't predicted it could have some incompatible games. A simple switch to select 1Mb/4Mb mode from the start could be used to avoid possible compatibility issues.

This makes me remember the Saturn's 3D Pad have a switch to change between analog and digital mode just to avoid compatibility issues, but in Golden Axe: The Duel, the 3D Pad makes the game returns to the system's menu each time the controller is connected, even in digital mode.

I seeing you have a lot of undone job!!

Only one word: Genius!!

Ok... Now we just need a translated version of TokiMemo for Saturn!!

How sad... During 80's/90's in Brazil, we watched cartoons (and animes, and even tokusatsus/sentais... until Saban came to localize all them into Power Rangers ) practically the whole day, from Monday to Friday, plus the Saturday's mornings!!

 

I'm new here and just getting back into gaming.
I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE!!!
HOW MUCH? WHERE DO I SIGN?
HOLY COW!!!!!

 

jhl great job but what is your sound tool here ? is it a sound editor ? will it be able to simulate/play audio on pc ?

it's at t=699


i'm using the sega mac tool and it's a real pain.

 

All I want to say besides keep up the good work!

is...please, ohh please....make enough hardware for everyone , or at least make a decent preorder system....nothing like GDEMU and Rhea...I think winning the lotto is easier than getting those two

 

I need and want this sooooooo badly. Take all of my money. Saturn forever!

 

Arg, it seems I forgot to answer you :/

I don't know a lot about cables or video output to TV. If somebody is knowledgeable about RGB mod/whatever, some opinion/experience/whatever is welcome

That's plain old 320 x 224, and using larger resolution would require to re-design all information screens and menus, so it will be improved ... later
And that's just a loader, not a technical demo, so low resolution isn't a problem I think.

Cartridge is designed to be configurable from Saturn. And loader can identify which game is about to be loaded, so automatic selection of suitable cartridge mode is technically possible
And personally, the less switches on the cartridge, the better when designing/assembling cartridge and when using it.

I think (but didn't verified) too that games incompatible with Action Replay expansion RAM is due to 1MB/4MB incompatibility : 1MB RAM is mirrored over 4MB addressing space, so using data from a mirror to another won't work on 4MB cartridge.

That's a design/decision failure from Sega : 3D pad features a "digital/analog mode switch", but pad <-> SPMC transfer protocol itself isn't compatible with regular pad.

Yeah, so little time, so much code to write
(And I'm currently quite busy with code at work ... less funny than Saturn one, but it pays everydays meals ^^)

 

So a small request. When you make your new revision of the card, can you add screw holes on their original place? I have an old bootleg vcd card lying around with a rather shiny enclosure.

 

I really wish people would stop "answering" for jhl aka Dr. Abrasive.

 

Hopefully, jhl is less "hammered flat" as we approach winter vacation. I've been lurking and I'm quite excited about this project. This is a huge game changer for the Saturn's used market, for the better!

Elevator Action Returns, you'll soon be mine, muhaha

 

Who are you targeting ? If that's about me, please let me know.

 

Apologies, I'm not pointing fingers. Just that the thread keeps growing with semi- and completely unrelated chatter. I've shared this thread with people who are interested in the development he's doing, and they came back to me completely confused. The last several pages of this thread have either nothing to do with jhl's project, or feature a lot of conjecture that he hasn't had time to respond to.

 

I see. Sorry for the unrelated chatting.

 

Take my money, please!


I'll take 5!!!

 

Me too, I've been confused as of late because of all this. Is it a joint project now or did he hand it off? If not please stop making promises for him.

 

Actually, it's two separate discussion about two different things. It's just a little off topic. (actually much off-topic)