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fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:22 pm

Hi all,

This Ferran from Barcelona city, right now living and working as sysadmin in Madrid. I recently rescued my old Sega Megadrive and I decided I would like to write some code for it. It works perfectely, but I don´s have any Idea aboout what I need to record the software I write (where) and how to run it into my megadrive. Do I need any speciall cartbridge or something similar? could u guys guideme letting me know what else I need a part of my megadrive?.

Many thanks

commodorejohn · Post by **commodorejohn** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:50 pm

ToToTEK sells Mega Drive/Genesis flash carts, which are certainly one option.

On the other hand, if you have a Mega CD attachment or are prepared to shell out a little cash for one (I got one like-new at a game shop for $50 US,) you can do Mega CD development and have more RAM, a second CPU, a graphics accelerator, and a nice extra sound chip to work with, as well as not having to buy a flash cart (they can be expensive, and using CD-Rs allows you to duplicate and sell any games you create very cheaply.) The downsides are that there are fewer people with Mega CDs than with unenhanced Megadrives, CD games have load times, and you have to take even more time to learn how the expansion hardware works.

Ultimately, it's your call - I personally lean towards the CD method, but the good folks over at Superfighter.com have been able to turn a profit on limited-quantity runs of a cartridge game.

RedAngel · Post by **RedAngel** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:06 am

Hola Ferrán, necesitas un cartucho "grabador" como el de Tototek (o el Megacart de Fonzie) y te aconsejaría que le pusieras un interruptor para pasar la consola a NTSC y que hicieses un cable euroconector RGB. Cuando juegues a 60hz, a pantalla completa verás lo que nos hemos perdido los territorios pal.

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:52 am

Many thanks guys,

I don´t have mega CD, just the megadrive, i´ll try to get one of these cartbrige.

What else should I need apart of the cartbridge?

Many thanks

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 9:58 am

Is this what I need guys?
http://www.tototek.com/pio/main1/SUBMEN ... dpro64.htm

What else I need to develop?

Where can I get examples?

How should I start?

What did you do guys?

Many thanks

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:15 am

What do u recomend me guys?

The Fonzie megacart or the tototek cartbrige?

Pascal · Post by **Pascal** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:26 am

me i'd advice the tototek md pro, coz the megacard is dedicated to megacd (no sram for md games, no rom larger than 24mb), limitation you don't have with the mdpro

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 10:36 am

Many thanks pascal,

So i´ll get the Tototek one, but... How can i start? any guide for dummies like me? examples? which language should I choose? assembler C?

Many thanks.

can I try soft done by u guys??

What did you?

Fonzie · Post by **Fonzie** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:22 am

You really need a flash cart?, genskmod helps a lot for a start

About our demos, there is a thread in the "demo section" of this board.
Have fun

Stef · Post by **Stef** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:36 pm

fepifanio wrote:Many thanks pascal,

So i´ll get the Tototek one, but... How can i start? any guide for dummies like me? examples? which language should I choose? assembler C?

Many thanks.

can I try soft done by u guys??

What did you?

About the software, if you're familiar with C code you can use this :

http://www.spritesmind.net/_GenDev/foru ... c.php?t=14

If you're looking after sample code, here's what you need :

http://www.spritesmind.net/_GenDev/foru ... c.php?t=53

edit : Fonzie already mentionned it

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:11 pm

Many thanks guys,

I only got one more question,

What about the Megadrive´s processor? z80 is all or should I learn about anothern one? any hardware guide.

Thanx!

TmEE co.(TM) · Post by **TmEE co.(TM)** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:17 pm

You have z80 and 68K, but you must learn 68K first as it is the main CPU, z80 is mainly used to control sound hardware, and for Master System compatibility. You should check programmersheaven.com, there are very good 68000 tutors in the assembly zone.

fepifanio · Post by **fepifanio** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:27 pm

So I´ll go for learning the 68000, but you said something about assembler. But... should be able to srite code for this processor in C language?

commodorejohn · Post by **commodorejohn** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:52 pm

There are C compilers for both the Z80 and the 68000, but since the Z80 is kind of slow, you're usually better off programming it in assembler. You'll be fine programming the 68000 in C unless you're doing something which needs to run extremely fast.

ob1 · Post by **ob1** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:53 pm

Look forward to EASy68K. It's my best advice for learning 68K.
Genesis come quite later.
Then look for Charles MacDonald VDP doc and the well-known sega2.doc.