Topics

[General Gaming / Bloodstained E3 Demo]

They released a download code for $60+ backers a couple days ago. I just finished playing through it and it's pretty damn awesome. Basically exactly what you'd expect, it felt a lot like the later handheld Castlevanias. Anyone else played it? What the hell are Kung Fu Shoes and how do I equip them?

[General Gaming / SNERD talks demoscene]

I'm working my way through the presentations at this year's GPU Technology Conference and I ran across something I didn't expect:

Thinking Outside the Cartridge: Modern Ideas Applied to Archaic Devices

I'm a sucker for demos. I remember being speechless after seeing Second Reality in highschool. I know very little about how these demos are created though and I found this talk pretty interesting. How he uses high level languages like C# and F# still wasn't clear to me by the end of the talk. Thinking of a demo as a sequence of deltas in hardware state though struck me as pretty cool.

I'm guessing those that know enough about coding demos probably won't get much out of this and those that don't probably don't want to sit through a 45 minute presentation, but I really enjoyed this.

[Off-Topic / Attention Canadians!]

I'm going to be in Calgary this weekend. The main purpose of the trip is to hike around Banff with my buddy, but I'll have Friday to wander the city while I wait for my buddy to finish work. What's cool in Calgary to check out? How's the public transportation out there? Any awesome game stores I should check out? Any game stores carry PC-FX or PC Engine stuff?

I'm really looking forward to this trip. It looks absolutely beautiful up there!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Turbo Crafts!]

Let's see your TG16 craft projects! I'll start.

I've posted these first two before long ago, but here's a CD holder I made in middle school:

/24oq8ol.jpg

And here's a Club Turbo I butchered as a child in an effort to make it hard covered:

/25k2zb5.jpg

Here's a clock I made long ago. This might have been a project I did in boy scouts, I really don't remember. I'm not sure what happened to the hands on the clock face.

/34r99jd.jpg

Finally, this doesn't really count, but here's some sweet-ass TG16 CNC'd sign I bought off of ebay:

/33f52m1.jpg

Show me what you guys have done! Either as a child or an adult, doesn't matter. I just want to see what cool stuff you guys have made!

[PC/Console/Mobile Ports / Article on programming the Saturn in 1995]

Ran across this article on programming the Saturn in 1995. Thought it was pretty interesting so I figured I'd share it here.

[Off-Topic / Favorite "system neutral" magazine]

What's your favorite old school "system neutral" magazine? "system neutral" here means no TurboPlay/Force/DuoWorld/Nintendo Power/MegaPlay/etc.

My vote goes for Diehard Gamefan, with Video Games and Computer Entertainment running a close second.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Would you rather have an LT or an LA?]

So, which do you want more? An LT or a Laser Active?

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Sadler's Summer of Raffles: Sapphire! OVER! WINNER DRAWN!]

I will be raffling off a series of items in the next few weeks. All raffles end Friday the 13th! (7/13/12) To be eligible, you most have 50 posts and/or been here at least 1 year. Additionally, if all of your posts are in sales/trades, I won't add you. Sorry guys, I'd really like this to go to people that will enjoy it! OK, now that the bad is out of the way, here's what's up for raffle:

Sapphire bootleg! This is only the disc, no manual, case or inlay. Yes, I'm aware there's another raffle giving away 3 Sapphires. Looks like this is a good time to snag a free copy if you are looking for one! Thanks!

BONUS! Sparky's awesome, so winner PM Sparky for free custom inserts!

Participants:

Nando
Samurai Ghost
fraggore
Deletion
Colossus1574

RAFFLE'S OVER! Congrats Nando!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Sadler's Summer of Raffles: Street Fighter 2! OVER! WINNER DRAWN!]

I will be raffling off a series of items in the next few weeks. All raffles end Friday the 13th! (7/13/12) To be eligible, you most have 50 posts and/or been here at least 1 year. Additionally, if all of your posts are in sales/trades, I won't add you. Sorry guys, I'd really like this to go to people that will enjoy it! OK, now that the bad is out of the way, here's what's up for raffle:

Street Fighter 2! Comes with game, hu sleeve, inlay and manual. No case. Thanks!

Participants:

neoxeno
Nando
TheClash603
BigusSchmuck
Gao
CPTRAVE
FiftyQuid

RAFFLE'S OVER! Congrats neoxeno!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Sadler's Summer of Raffles: Super System 3.0 Card case! OVER! WINNER DRAWN!]

I will be raffling off a series of items in the next few weeks. All raffles end Friday the 13th! (7/13/12) To be eligible, you most have 50 posts and/or been here at least 1 year. Additionally, if all of your posts are in sales/trades, I won't add you. Sorry guys, I'd really like this to go to people that will enjoy it! OK, now that the bad is out of the way, here's what's up for raffle:

A Super System Card case! This is only the case and inlay, not the card. Thanks!

Participants:

FiftyQuid
Sparky
c0ldb33r
Duo_R
esteban
meka
neoxeno
Flare65
BigT
DragonmasterDan
pceslayer

RAFFLE OVER! CONGRATS c0ldb33r!!!



c0ldb33r, shoot me a PM and I'll get it sent out to you. Congrats again!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Sadler's Summer of Raffles: AIR ZONK! OVER! WINNER DRAWN!]

I will be raffling off a series of games in the next few weeks. All raffles end Friday the 13th! (7/13/12) To be eligible, you most have 50 posts and/or been here at least 1 year. Additionally, if all of your posts are in sales/trades, I won't add you. Sorry guys, I'd really like this to go to people that will enjoy it! OK, now that the bad is out of the way, here's what's up for raffle:

AIR ZONK! Comes with game and manual. No case or box. Thanks!

Participants:

FiftyQuid
BigusSchmuck
Arjak
Firebomber7
Deletion
fraggore
Samurai Ghost
bartre
Jibbajaba
Gogan
JoshTurboTrollX-16
Bernie
motdelbourt
420GOAT
cabbage
CPTRAVE
Gao
meka
ooPo
storino03
c0ldb33r
munchiaz
mrhaboobi

RAFFLE'S OVER!! CONGRATS JoshTurboTrollX-16!!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Turbo cab!]

I was lucky enough to pick up a TurboGrafx cab today from a craigslist deal. Huge thanks to xele for the help moving this thing! Anyway, the whole experience was pretty awesome. I thought the seller was quite a character, but I'm probably basing that entirely on his mustache. I asked about other TG marquees or TG/PCE hardware he might have lying around. Turns out the guy has a laseractive! He didn't seem to want to let it go though, and I don't blame him. Anyway, as far as history on this cab goes, apparently it was a Galaga '88 cab converted for United Artist movie theaters. I think the guy said at one time he had two jamma tg's (actually I think he said PCE), but I'm not sure. Anyway, some pics:

Open cabinet:


Controller:


Marquee:



Galaga sticker:


Coin mechanism:


Random wires I don't understand. Presumably video and audio are somewhere in here:


Way up in the cab. Power supply and some other stuff?


I'd really like to get this thing up and running again. Presumably my first goal is to figure out the wiring inside the cab so I can make a jamma harness for it?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / What if...?]

I see threads here from time to time on what games you'd bring out in the US if you were in charge of the TG16. Let's take that a step further: what if everything available in Japan was available in the US, completely localized. Let's even include hardware in this. Do you think the TG would have come out on top then?

I'm not sure where I stand on it. The PC Engine had lots of fantastic stuff, and plenty that would appeal to the American gamer. At the end of the day though, I really don't know if it'd be enough.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / RAFFLE: Victory Run!]

Raffle closed!



Winner is guyjin!

Entrants:

guyjin
roflmao
genetik
tiptopjames
burn_654
snickersbar
BigusSchmuck
Gao
T2KFreeker

[Buy/Sell/Trade / WTB: SuperCDs]

I'm looking for the following SCDs (in order of desire):

Beyond Shadowgate
Terraforming
Might & Magic III
Super Air Zonk

I realize these are hard to come by, but I'd sure appreciate any help I can get. US versions only please. Thanks!

[Fighting Street / frozenintears is a giant bitch and...]

...is nintega. I know I said I didn't think he was, but I've turned on that. Consider:

1) gunmetalhed stopped showing up in chat, never have gunmetalhed and frozen appeared at the same time in chat.
2) shortly after my conversation with him in chat frozen arrives on the scene, posting from a different IP, but the same geographic location. Here's a hint dipshit: proxies. Not using your verizon account.
3) is obsessed with fighting street. 170+ of his 300 posts are in fighting street.
4) deliberate misspelling of nintega: "nintegra". As Shrapnoid pointed out, this is classic troll deflection behaviour.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Raffle: 3 PC Engine huey's. OVER! Congrats VenomMacbeth!]

My SuperGrafx finally arrived and the guy packed in 3 hueys with it. I either own the US version or am not particularly interested in the game, so I'll raffle them off as a lot. The games are:

Nectaris
Yū Yū Jinsei
World Jockey

All games are loose, no manuals or cases included. All games will be sent to the winner of this raffle. Submit your name below if you are interested, a name will be drawn on 2/10/12.

UPDATE: Raffles over!



Congrats VenomMacbeth, you win! I'll PM you for shipping information. Thanks!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Sadler's Junk]

FREE STUFF!!

Here's what I've got to offer:

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I'll update this if I find myself in possession of anymore duplicates. If everything goes according to plan, hopefully I'll have a copy of Air Zonk and another copy of SF2 to offer in a bit.

TV Sports Hockey (sealed)
TV Sports Football (sealed)
Final Lap Twin (manual + hu)
Sonic Spike (manual + hu)
Street Fighter 2 (hu only)
Sapphire (this guy's, sealed, CD + jewel case + rear insert, no manual just a cover)

All out of Rondo's
Also, 5 3 copies of CDR Rondo translations up for grabs.

tinypic.com/2ekrsrn.jpg
tinypic.com/2njf2hi.jpg

Priority for Rondo will go to those who have requested TV Sports games, but did not get them.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Traveling Duo Catalogue]

As I've blabbed about in a few threads now, I found some old Duo catalogs from TZD. These catalogs feature game descriptions and some other interesting stuff (like price lists from BITD). Because I have three copies of one of the catalogs, I think it'd be really cool to mail one of the copies around for people to thumb through. Currently tggodfrey has the catalog, but when he's done with it he's offered to mail it to anyone who wants to see it. If you'd like to see the catalog, post a message in here and he'll ship it to you once he gets done looking at it.

A few ground rules:

1) I suppose this is really up to whoever has the catalog currently, but it would be cool if whoever has the catalog pays for shipping it to the next person.

2) Please respect the catalog. Yes I've got a couple other copies, but let's not ruin it for anyone else that would like to see it. Please be careful to avoid spilling beer/peeing on it if you can.

3) Please don't hang on to it for too long. It'd suck if someone just pocketed it, and I'll be pissed if I see it on ebay.

If anyone has access to a decent scanner, I'd love to see this scanned as well. Other than that, let's have fun with this! Spread the wealth! The catalog is one of the three that looks the same at the bottom of this photo (sorry, I'm too lazy to go take another pic of it).

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Abusing PCE hardware for overlapping omnidirectional parallax]

OK, first off, perhaps this is an obvious technique. If so, apologies. Second, no, I haven't implemented it yet. I'm in the middle of a move and things are a bit chaotic. So, having said all that, allow me to speculate.

I was studying Magical Chase the other day, and watching the farthest background layer, it occurred to me that it's possible to have at least two layers of overlapping, multidirectional parallax without resorting to dynamic tiles or sprites, if you are careful about your art. This technique relies on a combination of changing the background color per scan line, changing the x offset per scan line and duplicating scan lines.

First, the background color. This is pretty obvious. Use a gradient, and offset the gradient start to allow it to scroll vertically. Because the gradient doesn't vary horizontally, you don't need to worry about x-scrolling.





Now lets add some tiles. Excuse the horrible copy paste art.



It's pretty common in PCE games to horizontally scroll various portions of the screen at different rates. This is very easy to do in huc, but it doesn't get you vertical parallax. Some games will shift these regions up and down as the screen scrolls up and down, but the layers remain constant in terms of size and position to one another (see Air Zonk). So, for now we'll set it up so the cloud area scrolls slower along the x axis than the castle area below.



OK, awesome! So how do we get the clouds to scroll at a slower speed vertically than the castle? We selectively duplicate the line just below the clouds, but above where the castle scroll region begins. By duplicating this line, we can move the castle region up or down by the number of lines we duplicate.



Now, with some book keeping to keep the gradient scroll vertically scrolling at the same rate as the cloud vertical scroll rate, it appears we have a complete background layer that overlaps with the castle layer, but scroll independently. The only caveat is that the castle layer can move no higher than the bottom of the cloud layer. Depending on how much you duplicate the line, this could be a great deal of vertical scrolling. Additionally, you could always use sprite caps on the top of the castle layer to allow a bit over lap between the castles and the clouds. Even without that though, it should still appear as two completely independently overlapping layers.

Any thoughts? Am I completely retarded?

EDIT: clarification

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Homebrew titles]

How many homebrew titles have been officially released? I know about Insanity, Implode and Meteor Blaster DX. Are there any others? Also, does anyone know where to get Meteor Blaster DX these days? I checked the MindRec store and didn't see it. Thanks!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Who's your favorite developer for TG?]

I realize there aren't a huge number of choices for this. Falcom seems like an obvious choice with gems like Ys and Dragon Slayer. Red is another good choice. I'm guessing it might be sacrilege to say this, but IREM wouldn't make the list for me. Chris Covell might though!  

What do you think?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / TG16 on AOTS]

Anyone else see this? Turbografx 16 on Attack of the Show.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Connect CD ROM to TurboExpress]

Hi PcEngineFX! I haven't posted here before, but I was reading the 101 PC Engine Secrets page and my curiosity has been piqued. Secret 6 explains that 1 pin is missing to hook up a CD ROM to the TurboExpress. What pin is missing? I'm no EE, but I'm guessing the same chips are present in the TurboExpress as the TG16. How hard would it be to mod a TurboExpress to hook up to a CD attachment? Thanks!