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Games inc. extra hardware

By zett

Hero (606)

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19-09-2019, 17:15

There are not a lot of add on hardware in cardriges exvept the scc.
If you look ad game consoles rom games there ar lots of addon stuff like extra cpu

no msx game like that? why?

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By Manuel

Ascended (16981)

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19-09-2019, 19:25

Because it's quite expensive? On MSX we have stuff like SCC indeed, but also SRAM (or flash in modern games) backup and a few games with a DAC. Anything I missed?

By ducasp

Champion (371)

ducasp's picture

19-09-2019, 21:16

zett wrote:

There are not a lot of add on hardware in cardriges exvept the scc.
If you look ad game consoles rom games there ar lots of addon stuff like extra cpu

no msx game like that? why?

I think that the lack of access to the Vram without z80 as the middleman kills the possibility of lot of ideas used on consoles, also, notice that when those cartridges were being used, MSX was no longer a relevant platform for game developers in general, thus I think this is the main reasons of why didn't we have a SUPERFX or something like that...

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (9824)

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19-09-2019, 22:10

I wonder: could a cartridge have its own timer, which always runs at constant speed regardless of the VDP, and which triggers the music player? That'd keep the speed of the music consistent anywhere. Such a small timer chip may not be too expensive perhaps?

By OeiOeiVogeltje

Paragon (1367)

OeiOeiVogeltje's picture

19-09-2019, 22:59

that new gyruss had a special sound chip
the "ambilight' cartridge has speciale hardware (the flashing leds)

By Manuel

Ascended (16981)

Manuel's picture

20-09-2019, 00:12

wolf_ - sure... I guess you need to use some crystal and a circuit to generate interrupts at the desired intervals.

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (5595)

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20-09-2019, 09:13

Manuel wrote:

wolf_ - sure... I guess you need to use some crystal and a circuit to generate interrupts at the desired intervals.

I would say Zilog CTC would be pretty ideal... I'm very sad that they didn't include this chip to the original MSX design. I would find tons of uses for it. It even supports different Z80 interrupt modes.

By zett

Hero (606)

zett's picture

20-09-2019, 11:39

hmm yeah that game card with those leds is great