Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Just some info since folks have asked for what I call “Atari Polygon” hardware, which is Hard Drivin, Race Drivin, and STUN Runner.
First, I have boards to loan if anyone wants to dig in and take this core up. I am also willing to do some funding, but only for someone who is really serious and capable of getting stuff done.
Some info I think is interesting to keep in mind. Mainly it’s worth noting that the hardware across all those games is very similar. There are three drivers, Hard Drivin, Race Drivin, and Race Drivin Panorama. There were two cabinet styles, upright (aka “compact”) and cockpit (and Panorama had sort of a cockpit that had two extra screens added). There are *major* differences between the two cabinet styles, the most interesting is that the compact cabinet is CGA (as is STUN Runner) and the cockpits are EGA. They used totally different motherboards with different video hardware and thus these can’t be swapped across cabinet types.
Also worth noting is that the racers have serial ports on them and when the boards have Race Drivin software installed (it’s a ROM/Slapstic swap) you can link two machines with a null modem cable for some pseudo head to head racing. This does NOT include Panorama, however, and there’s a good reason….Panorama (which can also be played with a ROM/slapstic swap) uses the serial ports for communication to the “side pods.” So what a Panorama *really* is is a RD cockpit hardware for the center screen (yes, cockpit, because the center screen is EGA) and then *basically* (I say basically because an actual STUN Runner motherboard doesn’t have the serial port hardware populated since it didn’t need it and thus can’t be used for a Panorama side pod unless you solder all the parts into place) STUN Runner hardware for *each* side screen (which means those are actually CGA). Then the single serial port of the center is run in parallel to the two side pod hardware boards (which seems wrong but works fine because the side pods only listen for data, they do not broadcast anything). Those have Panorama side pod software loaded and simply show the proper angle of video for how they are configured, which is done by going into test on each side pod.
What’s more interesting is that the “side pod” system isn’t really just for side pods. You can configure any of like 18 or so different viewing angles including behind, above, under, etc. So technically if you wanted you could surround yourself with monitors and side pod hardware and just parallel that same serial connection and get MANY views in many directions all at the same time.
It’s also worth noting that cockpit and compact cabinet styles had some different controls. I’m not 100% sure but I think there are steering differences. I know that the brake pedal on the compact is a strain gauge whereas on the cockpit it’s a potentiometer. And on the compact the shifter is really an analog joystick (x-y potentiometers) whereas on the compact it’s switches. And the compact video is flipped because a compact has the monitor overhead and you view it via a mirror.
If you only implemented CGA hardware, you would cover being able to play Hard Drivin, Race Drivin, and STUN Runner and that would including linking two Race Drivin’s, but you would NOT be able to play Panorama because there are no Panorama ROMs that will run on CGA like there are with Race Drivin. But I doubt adding the EGA hardware support would be all that hard if you got as far as CGA working.
This is another case that in my ideal world not only would a core get done that could play the game, but I’d love to see it complete enough that a harness could be made to support the cabinet controls and feedback so a MiSTer could be used to replace the PCBs in a real cabinet. I have both cabinet styles and the ability to do the wiring and testing needed to make this happen if anyone wanted to take on the bigger project. Being able to play these games with home controls is better than nothing, but IMHO it was the amazing feedback available in the steering of these real cabinets that made these special. Current stuff you can buy for racing simulators on PCs is very good, but still nowhere near as good as Atari’s first stab at it. It’s still the gold standard, IMHO. I guess when you see the washing machine motor that controls it you know why.
—Donnie
First, I have boards to loan if anyone wants to dig in and take this core up. I am also willing to do some funding, but only for someone who is really serious and capable of getting stuff done.
Some info I think is interesting to keep in mind. Mainly it’s worth noting that the hardware across all those games is very similar. There are three drivers, Hard Drivin, Race Drivin, and Race Drivin Panorama. There were two cabinet styles, upright (aka “compact”) and cockpit (and Panorama had sort of a cockpit that had two extra screens added). There are *major* differences between the two cabinet styles, the most interesting is that the compact cabinet is CGA (as is STUN Runner) and the cockpits are EGA. They used totally different motherboards with different video hardware and thus these can’t be swapped across cabinet types.
Also worth noting is that the racers have serial ports on them and when the boards have Race Drivin software installed (it’s a ROM/Slapstic swap) you can link two machines with a null modem cable for some pseudo head to head racing. This does NOT include Panorama, however, and there’s a good reason….Panorama (which can also be played with a ROM/slapstic swap) uses the serial ports for communication to the “side pods.” So what a Panorama *really* is is a RD cockpit hardware for the center screen (yes, cockpit, because the center screen is EGA) and then *basically* (I say basically because an actual STUN Runner motherboard doesn’t have the serial port hardware populated since it didn’t need it and thus can’t be used for a Panorama side pod unless you solder all the parts into place) STUN Runner hardware for *each* side screen (which means those are actually CGA). Then the single serial port of the center is run in parallel to the two side pod hardware boards (which seems wrong but works fine because the side pods only listen for data, they do not broadcast anything). Those have Panorama side pod software loaded and simply show the proper angle of video for how they are configured, which is done by going into test on each side pod.
What’s more interesting is that the “side pod” system isn’t really just for side pods. You can configure any of like 18 or so different viewing angles including behind, above, under, etc. So technically if you wanted you could surround yourself with monitors and side pod hardware and just parallel that same serial connection and get MANY views in many directions all at the same time.
It’s also worth noting that cockpit and compact cabinet styles had some different controls. I’m not 100% sure but I think there are steering differences. I know that the brake pedal on the compact is a strain gauge whereas on the cockpit it’s a potentiometer. And on the compact the shifter is really an analog joystick (x-y potentiometers) whereas on the compact it’s switches. And the compact video is flipped because a compact has the monitor overhead and you view it via a mirror.
If you only implemented CGA hardware, you would cover being able to play Hard Drivin, Race Drivin, and STUN Runner and that would including linking two Race Drivin’s, but you would NOT be able to play Panorama because there are no Panorama ROMs that will run on CGA like there are with Race Drivin. But I doubt adding the EGA hardware support would be all that hard if you got as far as CGA working.
This is another case that in my ideal world not only would a core get done that could play the game, but I’d love to see it complete enough that a harness could be made to support the cabinet controls and feedback so a MiSTer could be used to replace the PCBs in a real cabinet. I have both cabinet styles and the ability to do the wiring and testing needed to make this happen if anyone wanted to take on the bigger project. Being able to play these games with home controls is better than nothing, but IMHO it was the amazing feedback available in the steering of these real cabinets that made these special. Current stuff you can buy for racing simulators on PCs is very good, but still nowhere near as good as Atari’s first stab at it. It’s still the gold standard, IMHO. I guess when you see the washing machine motor that controls it you know why.
—Donnie
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Oh, I should also mention that one of the original main developers of the Atari Polygon hardware and software is Jed Margolin, and he’s been VERY approachable and helpful with info on this stuff and I’m sure would be willing to answer questions of someone who was making a serious attempt at this. No, he ain’t gonna go do it, but having someone like him who can answer questions as they arise would likely be super useful.
—Donnie
—Donnie
- CartoonDonkey
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Seconding Valtric and Exerion. Actually -almost all the cool Jaleco shooters
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Rolling Thunder
Legend of Kage
Kageki
Wardner
720
NARC
Legend of Kage
Kageki
Wardner
720
NARC
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Kyukyoku Tiger
Fireshark
Truxton 1 & 2
...and of course Batsugun
I was trying to look up what hardware each of these were on, hoping the earlier games were maybe on one board, but I don't think that's the case. I can see how arduous this must be trying to make a new arcade core for just one game! If someone is working on the toaplan titles and has a patreon I'd love to support.
Fireshark
Truxton 1 & 2
...and of course Batsugun
I was trying to look up what hardware each of these were on, hoping the earlier games were maybe on one board, but I don't think that's the case. I can see how arduous this must be trying to make a new arcade core for just one game! If someone is working on the toaplan titles and has a patreon I'd love to support.
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
The Apple IIgs seems to be the biggest missing home computer core.
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Would love to see some of these
Star Wars (Atari)
R-Type (Irem)
Gradius/Nemesis (Konami)
Salamander (Konami)
Track & Field (Konami)
Rainbow Islands (Namco)
Rolling Thunder (Namco)
Ikari Warriors (SNK)
Cadash (Taito)
Rastan (Taito)
Xain'd Sleena (Technos)
Wardner (Toaplan)
Snow Bros (Toaplan)
Star Wars (Atari)
R-Type (Irem)
Gradius/Nemesis (Konami)
Salamander (Konami)
Track & Field (Konami)
Rainbow Islands (Namco)
Rolling Thunder (Namco)
Ikari Warriors (SNK)
Cadash (Taito)
Rastan (Taito)
Xain'd Sleena (Technos)
Wardner (Toaplan)
Snow Bros (Toaplan)
- Mr. Encyclopedia
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Here's a left-field wish: a single music core that can play all the different chiptune music rip formats, the way the NES core can play .nsf files. If I ever made an attempt at developing a core, this is what I'd try to do.
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Agree, at least for here in the USA for the period. I've always thought of the three, Amiga, Atari ST, and Apple 2GS as kind of a trio together. One is still left behind.
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Agreed about the Apple IIgs. That’s what I had and it was amazing. California Games, Leisure Suit Larry, Where in USA is Carmen. Good times.
Arcade-wise, I’m dying to play these on my Mister:
-Capcom Bowling
-Toobin’
-Rampge
-TMNT
-Turtles in Time
-Simpsons
-MK
-MK II
-NBA Jam
-Primal Rage
Console-wise: N64
Arcade-wise, I’m dying to play these on my Mister:
-Capcom Bowling
-Toobin’
-Rampge
-TMNT
-Turtles in Time
-Simpsons
-MK
-MK II
-NBA Jam
-Primal Rage
Console-wise: N64
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Native sound on 2GS is easily superier to Amiga or ST and 2GS has interesting color options, compared to Amiga and Atari ST. It's not quite 256 colors, like VGA, but can get pretty close. It's basic designed for doing point and client adventure games. Scrolling reflex games, well, is what it is.
There was a guy working on FPGA N64, but I don't think it's the same hardware as the MisterFPGA. He did get some 3d graphics rendering, but has been quiet lately. Maybe got a 'real job' -- know how that goes.
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Well I can cross that one off the list! I only had this thing a few days. Thanks for letting me know!MadDog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 12, 2021 10:01 pm Rampage? https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Arcade-MCR3Mono_MiSTer
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
-3do (underrated classic)
-CD-i (never a great emulator for this one, some unique games)
-Jaguar, specifically with Jaguar CD support (no good CD emulation support either, afaik)
-Simpsons and TMNT beat-em-ups. Really, just every beat-em-up...
-NBA Jam
Could go on and on, but those are the main ones I'll hope for / look forward to.
-CD-i (never a great emulator for this one, some unique games)
-Jaguar, specifically with Jaguar CD support (no good CD emulation support either, afaik)
-Simpsons and TMNT beat-em-ups. Really, just every beat-em-up...
-NBA Jam
Could go on and on, but those are the main ones I'll hope for / look forward to.
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
I'd think I would like to see the following cores made or finalized:
* Apple IIe with disk writing support
* Apple IIgs
* NEC PC-88 and Sharp x68000 to be completed
* Thomson TO5/TO8
* NBA Jam (Arcade)
* Rastan (Arcade)
* R-Type (Arcade)
* Outrun (Arcade)
* Apple IIe with disk writing support
* Apple IIgs
* NEC PC-88 and Sharp x68000 to be completed
* Thomson TO5/TO8
* NBA Jam (Arcade)
* Rastan (Arcade)
* R-Type (Arcade)
* Outrun (Arcade)
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
For me:
Neo Geo Pocket Color
N64 Would be good, but I doubt it will be possible
3DO
Sega 32X
Arcade - Outrun
Arcade - Aliens
Arcade - R-Type (& 2)
Arcade - Simpsons, TNMT etc
Neo Geo Pocket Color
N64 Would be good, but I doubt it will be possible
3DO
Sega 32X
Arcade - Outrun
Arcade - Aliens
Arcade - R-Type (& 2)
Arcade - Simpsons, TNMT etc
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
I’d love it if someone had a go at a core for Tekhan’s Star Force. From what I’ve read, it shares a lot in terms of hardware with Bomb Jack, but no schematics seem to be out there. The only additional data I’ve seen is either in the mame driver, or at http://www.ukvac.com/forum/star-force-s ... 43481.html
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Hi.
KC 85/3 Kleincomputer from East Germany. Loved the games in my childhood, especially "Pursuit".
Software Emus and technical docs exists so should be no problem to create a core.
KC 85/3 Kleincomputer from East Germany. Loved the games in my childhood, especially "Pursuit".
Software Emus and technical docs exists so should be no problem to create a core.
- lamarax
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
I'm assuming you are aware of this.
While technically it's not exactly what you are asking for, that arcade machine seemingly coexisted in the DDR with what you remember using at home
Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
Thank you very much!
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Re: Wishlist of Cores You Would Like to See in the Future
I would love an R-Type core.
This game was all I played back in college.
Had a machine on campus canteen.
Only game I finished in an arcade.
This game was all I played back in college.
Had a machine on campus canteen.
Only game I finished in an arcade.