NES (on PCE) emulator

[Arkhan Asylum]

Yea.

but are we sure this one for sale is actually the one Tom worked on? lol.  What if by some strange fluke this is unrelated?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Yea.

but are we sure this one for sale is actually the one Tom worked on? lol.  What if by some strange fluke this is unrelated?

There's always that possibility, but the odds are pretty long.

[Bernie]

Only one way to find out...  And thats to buy one.  I am assuming by ripping the disc, and uploading it for Tom to look at, he would know if its actually his, right?

[TurboXray]

Yea.

but are we sure this one for sale is actually the one Tom worked on? lol.  What if by some strange fluke this is unrelated?

True, true. But what's the one law... given all things, the simplest explanation is usually the most probable explanation? Or something like that. Given the other two titles on the site aren't developed by the seller either (he states that he's reprinting those). I sent an email to the address listed on the site.

 Bernie: Correct.

[Frank_fjs]

Clear your cache. It's at the very top of the page.

Yep, that did the trick, thanks.

Shame that this wasn't done legitimately as it looks like very nice work.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Yeah it sucks that you'd have to drop like 80$ to find out if the douchecunt is profiting off of a hack.

Hacks are supposed to be free.  Maybe they're just charging for the packaging, and the game is free!

[TurboXray]

Legitimately? You mean asking me or asking Capcom? Even if they asked me for permission to use my work (the backend emulation code and such) in a project for profit, I don't own or have the rights to the assets and code of the original game.

[Frank_fjs]

I meant it would be nice if someone took the time to design a nice cover for your work and make it freely available. People could print it out at home and throw it into a blank CD case.

[esteban]

Yeah, well... the Japanese buyers will be a bit confused when the boot the thing and the title reads Megaman instead of Rockman (well, I'm assuming) - contrary to what the labels indicate.

Just found this too: wayback://sapphire.anime4ever.de/

The problem is that this fellow's presentation really makes everything look so professional...I can see the average PCE fan (outside of these forums) not questioning the ethics behind these items.

Sad.

However, maybe someone here can contact Mr. anime4ever.de and ask him for screenshots (or video) of Rockman/Megaman title screen + stage 1...just to see what is actually being sold here.

I know I'm curious.

[Senshi]

Yeah it sucks that you'd have to drop like 80$ to find out if the douchecunt is profiting off of a hack.

Hacks are supposed to be free.  Maybe they're just charging for the packaging, and the game is free!

It says its a faithful conversion

[Arkhan Asylum]

Truth be told, I'd pay like 30$ for the packaging alone, no disc!  That posterthing is fuckin cool looking.

[Senshi]

His response to me:

Hi, yes, that's a 1:1 port of the original NES version.

[Arkhan Asylum]

a port, eh?

lol

SOMEONE IS CONFUSED.

[Senshi]

isn't that what a port is? bring it from system over to another?

[OldRover]

A port is when you take source code and adapt it for another system.

[Arkhan Asylum]

and in this case, it's more of a hack than a port... lol

[Bernie]

Truth be told, I'd pay like 30$ for the packaging alone, no disc!  That posterthing is fuckin cool looking.

Well, curiousity got the best of me.  I bought one.

[spenoza]

It's less than a port, more than a hack. The audio emulation code alone was probably more work than any hack short of a total conversion. I'd say this is darn near a port, given that he's opened it up to hacking with enhanced capabilities as well. Definitely a prime piece of software work.

And yes, the packaging kicks major ass. We should track the foo down and get him to do some other work for our community  ; )

[esteban]

It's less than a port, more than a hack. The audio emulation code alone was probably more work than any hack short of a total conversion. I'd say this is darn near a port, given that he's opened it up to hacking with enhanced capabilities as well. Definitely a prime piece of software work.

And yes, the packaging kicks major ass. We should track the foo down and get him to do some other work for our community  ; )

He can atone for his sins by providing exceptional graphic design and layouts!

Not that this would truly cancel his sins, mind you...but it would be a token gesture.

The design and layout are truly exquisite.

Goddamn him!

[Shrapnoid]

Nice as that looks, I'd rather wait for a possible enhanced graphics/Sounds version, done by the best MM/RM hackers around and supervised or approved by Bonknuts.
I'm a big Megaman fan and have been for decades but, even if I thought this deal were legit, I'd refuse to buy this guy's version.

[Bernie]

I'm a big Megaman fan and have been for decades but, even if I thought this deal were legit, I'd refuse to buy this guy's version.

Well good for you.

[nat]

Ah yes, the venerable Anime4Ever.

Just when you think he's a fading memory...

[VestCunt]

Truth be told, I'd pay like 30$ for the packaging alone, no disc!  That posterthing is fuckin cool looking.

Well, curiousity got the best of me.  I bought one. 

The other thing to remember before doing business with animeforever is the guy is a liar.  He opened an account here in '05 promoting his mysterious box of Sapphires with that elaborate "second print" BS about how they were found in Japan and how he sent a copy to Hudson and they could neither confirm nor deny their authenticity.  He then opened that website just sell that "one box."  He's since sold some unpackaged and misprinted spindles and everyone now knows that he made them himself

Considering this checkered past, there's no doubt he simply ripped off that Mega Man hack and made some discs.  His last effort, SFZ, was a CDr step down from the glass master Sapphire discs, so you're probably not even getting a real disc.  His graphic design is sweet, but I can't support this guy in good conscience.

[Shrapnoid]

Truth be told, I'd pay like 30$ for the packaging alone, no disc!  That posterthing is fuckin cool looking.

Well, curiousity got the best of me.  I bought one. 

The other thing to remember before doing business with animeforever is the guy is a liar.  He opened an account here in '05 promoting his mysterious box of Sapphires with that elaborate "second print" BS about how they were found in Japan and how he sent a copy to Hudson and they could neither confirm nor deny their authenticity.  He then opened that website just sell that "one box."  He's since sold some unpackaged and misprinted spindles and everyone now knows that he made them himself

Considering this checkered past, there's no doubt he simply ripped off that Mega Man hack and made some discs.  His last effort, SFZ, was a CDr step down from the glass master Sapphire discs, so you're probably not even getting a real disc.  His graphic design is sweet, but I can't support this guy in good conscience.

See? I guess I can understand picking one up if you're really THAT curious and can afford it but, I just don't see it.

[TurboXray]

Had some time to think about this today. And to be honest, I'm not really bothered by it. After first, after seeing the yahoo auctions I was little bit pissed (like you get at ebay jerks selling pirated stuffs), but also quite a bit amused. But after seeing the site, which seems to have no relation to those - meh. If you guys want to buy copies from him and talk about them, then that's cool. I'm not disgruntled about it or anything. 1) I can't sell these for myself for obvious reasons. 2) They were meant to be free for community. 3) Even if someone did ask for permission to use my emulation code (which is mine and not Capcoms) in a for profit project, there's still no way I could officially say "yeah, sure". Simply because I'd still be consider aiding in copyright infringement for profit (I'd use the word 'pirate', but it's lost a lot of its meaning since the 80's and 90's). I never intended to profit from it and I'm still not profiting from it, so nothing's changed. But I'm definitely gonna keep this in mind for all future stuff I release for free (gonna have to look over the GPL free for non commercial/profit crap or something)

 If this is a CD-R though, you're definitely wasting your money - hahahaha. Ask first. I remember when some stupid retrogame company got a hold of some beta SegaCD game and I rushed out to order it (totally legit) and it turned out to be a CD-R. I was pissed to say the least. The fighting game itself was a piece crap though, so double pissed. (And no, pissed != drunk)

 Anyway, do what you guys want. I'm cool with it. I've actually got an email from the site's owner and ask that if it is my work he's selling, and since it was released to be free for the PCE community, that if he can provide his nice manual and inserts online in some downloadable digital format free for the community to use as well. Seems fair to me. If not, we make our own here - right? Someone must have talents for this kind of stuffs...

[Bernie]

Tom, Do you still want me to rip it and upload the image for you to compare?

[Sadler]

Had some time to think about this today. And to be honest, I'm not really bothered by it. After first, after seeing the yahoo auctions I was little bit pissed (like you get at ebay jerks selling pirated stuffs), but also quite a bit amused. But after seeing the site, which seems to have no relation to those - meh. If you guys want to buy copies from him and talk about them, then that's cool. I'm not disgruntled about it or anything. 1) I can't sell these for myself for obvious reasons. 2) They were meant to be free for community. 3) Even if someone did ask for permission to use my emulation code (which is mine and not Capcoms) in a for profit project, there's still no way I could officially say "yeah, sure". Simply because I'd still be consider aiding in copyright infringement for profit (I'd use the word 'pirate', but it's lost a lot of its meaning since the 80's and 90's). I never intended to profit from it and I'm still not profiting from it, so nothing's changed. But I'm definitely gonna keep this in mind for all future stuff I release for free (gonna have to look over the GPL free for non commercial/profit crap or something)

 If this is a CD-R though, you're definitely wasting your money - hahahaha. Ask first. I remember when some stupid retrogame company got a hold of some beta SegaCD game and I rushed out to order it (totally legit) and it turned out to be a CD-R. I was pissed to say the least. The fighting game itself was a piece crap though, so double pissed. (And no, pissed != drunk)

 Anyway, do what you guys want. I'm cool with it. I've actually got an email from the site's owner and ask that if it is my work he's selling, and since it was released to be free for the PCE community, that if he can provide his nice manual and inserts online in some downloadable digital format free for the community to use as well. Seems fair to me. If not, we make our own here - right? Someone must have talents for this kind of stuffs...

Wow, that's incredibly generous of you! I don't think I'd be nearly as patient with someone selling my work for profit. To be honest, I'd much prefer to wait for upgraded sprites/tiles and have the art work printed myself, and burn the CD myself. Still, I think it's cool you are that laid back.

At any rate, thank you so much for your contributions to the community. I have nothing but respect for you!

[TurboXray]

Tom, Do you still want me to rip it and upload the image for you to compare?

Sure. I'd be interested to see what version of the emulation it's using. I only recently made a CD version available that increases the screen size because of two floor enemies that couldn't be seen otherwise (in Iceman's level). I'm assuming it's the version before that (again, assuming this CD is my work or partial work. If not, it'd be one hell of a surprise ). Also, I hope you get a pressed disc. It would suck if you paid all that money just for a CD-R (really nice manual/inserts or not). I kinda feel bad that you spent $80 on this. I'll hook you up in the future with something cool ;)

 Sadler: I have something pretty serious in the works right now (homebrew). And it's my end goal for now, for PCE so to speak. So I rather keep my focus on that and not worry about other little things that don't really directly effect me. And to be honest, I'm envious of the manual/insert work. All my CD-R builds of it are just hastily written words/numbers in sharpie >_>

[Tatsujin]

That guy is tobias, a german. Bmw was in contact with him for his missprinted sapphire leftovers once.
If he just robbered toms work, then this is everything else than good.

[spenoza]

I knew not the backstory on this... Hrm... That is troubling. If, despite his fine packaging work, he's a fraudster and a cheat, he definitely needs to be taken to task.

[Bernie]

Tom, Do you still want me to rip it and upload the image for you to compare? 

Sure. I'd be interested to see what version of the emulation it's using. I only recently made a CD version available that increases the screen size because of two floor enemies that couldn't be seen otherwise (in Iceman's level). I'm assuming it's the version before that (again, assuming this CD is my work or partial work. If not, it'd be one hell of a surprise ). Also, I hope you get a pressed disc. It would suck if you paid all that money just for a CD-R (really nice manual/inserts or not). I kinda feel bad that you spent $80 on this. I'll hook you up in the future with something cool ;)

Wasnt quite 80, more like 61 and some change.  I too hope its a pressed disc, but I am thinking otherwise.  Either way, once I get it I will rip it and upload it for ya.  Dont feel bad, but hooking me up in the future is always cool.    Do you want me to send you the artwork on loan as well?  Meaning the inserts and all.  Id rather someone scan them, that knows how to do it correctly.  I could try my best tho.

[esteban]

Anyway, do what you guys want. I'm cool with it. I've actually got an email from the site's owner and ask that if it is my work he's selling, and since it was released to be free for the PCE community, that if he can provide his nice manual and inserts online in some downloadable digital format free for the community to use as well. Seems fair to me. If not, we make our own here - right? Someone must have talents for this kind of stuffs...

I don't think folks here are rushing out to buy stuff from anime4ever...

As vestcunt pointed out, this fellow is a profiteer and knows exactly what he is doing (re-packaging other's work).

I am glad that you contacted him and I am hoping that he will share the inserts with us...hey, we can dream, can't we?

Otherwise, as Bernie suggested, we scan the inserts ourselves (the irony!).

[incrediblehark]

I'd love to get one of these, if it was a pressed disc and a finished version wit enhanced graphics/sond/etc. Really would like to see more Rockman/Megaman games cross over to PCE, its not like Capcom's going to give us any new ones.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Just scan all the inserts that come with Bernies, and let sparky mass produce that shit, lol.

DESTROY ANIME4EVAR

[TurboXray]

Wasnt quite 80, more like 61 and some change.  I too hope its a pressed disc, but I am thinking otherwise.  Either way, once I get it I will rip it and upload it for ya.  Dont feel bad, but hooking me up in the future is always cool.    Do you want me to send you the artwork on loan as well?  Meaning the inserts and all.  Id rather someone scan them, that knows how to do it correctly.  I could try my best tho.

My scanner is sub-par. Probably better if someone else with a better scanner and more experience with it.

[Senshi]

Wasnt quite 80, more like 61 and some change.  I too hope its a pressed disc, but I am thinking otherwise.  Either way, once I get it I will rip it and upload it for ya.  Dont feel bad, but hooking me up in the future is always cool.    Do you want me to send you the artwork on loan as well?  Meaning the inserts and all.  Id rather someone scan them, that knows how to do it correctly.  I could try my best tho.

My scanner is sub-par. Probably better if someone else with a better scanner and more experience with it.

How "good" does the scanner need to be?

[Arkhan Asylum]

1.21 jiggaDPI?

[Bernie]

Talked to Sparky.  We will make sure everyone has access to all the inserts, including poster, for the MegaMan Super CD.  Patience.. 

[Tatsujin]

Patience my apprentice

[Moosmann]

Received the game 2 days ago without to know whether it exist.




The printed quality is MUCH higher to compare mostly Xbox/PS3 etc. releases

[Arkhan Asylum]

fire it up.

whats the title screen say

[soop]

Oh man... Mega Man on the PCE.. and yes that artwork is sweet.  I'll keep an eye on this.

[esteban]

I'm just curious: Have there been any developments on this?

I'm assuming this is Tom's work, correct?  Which version is it?

I doubt anyone actually revised Tom's code, but, hey: Were alterations made? If so, explain!

Thanks in advance

[Bernie]

Soon as I get my copy I will be ripping it and uploading it for Tom to check out.  I will also post screen shots if they havent been posted by then.  I should have mine by Monday, hopefully.  Sending all the artwork Sparky's way ASAP so he can get some nice scans of it as well for future use.

[esteban]

Soon as I get my copy I will be ripping it and uploading it for Tom to check out.  I will also post screen shots if they havent been posted by then.  I should have mine by Monday, hopefully.  Sending all the artwork Sparky's way ASAP so he can get some nice scans of it as well for future use.

Thanks for the scoop.

[RegalSin]

Sigh.......... you know what I wanted to do this as well, otherwise, this is
not reasonable.

The title screen has Rockman X talking english. I know for a fact that somebody was doing NES ports to PCE on certain types of mappers.

Like some Hong Kong sellers, I would ignore this game all together. The artwork does not even match at all. 15,500 for this is too much.
That is like 300 dollars for something using misplaced art. Not good.

[JapanTokei]

so now I found the proper thread for this topic... I have to say:

1) Bonknutz, you're focking awesome for making this work!
2) anime.de is a focking shameless punkazz for ripping BonkNuts' work and selling these!  shame on him!!     

someone should point Capcom to his site... grrrrrrrr

Bonknutz, on another topic, if you get this emu to work well enough, the possibilities would be amazing.  i.e. pressing our own versions of famicom classics... imagine:

running a NES version of Downtown Netkkesu (river city ransom) and playing it side by side with the PCE version... lol   

[TurboXray]

so now I found the proper thread for this topic... I have to say:

1) Bonknutz, you're focking awesome for making this work!
2) anime.de is a focking shameless punkazz for ripping BonkNuts' work and selling these!  shame on him!!    

someone should point Capcom to his site... grrrrrrrr

Bonknutz, on another topic, if you get this emu to work well enough, the possibilities would be amazing.  i.e. pressing our own versions of famicom classics... imagine:

running a NES version of Downtown Netkkesu (river city ransom) and playing it side by side with the PCE version... lol  

Well to his credit, according to the guy that runs the site - he said he got it from a yahoo auction (and I saw the original one on yahoo - has different art and manual). So he claims he didn't know it was mine nor did he take it from me (my site). That said, if he's gonna sell it (it's on a Sony DADC cd-r. I guess they're supposed to be second best to a pressed CD??? Made for old embedded systems with CD drives or some such thing) people should at least be getting the newest build (his build is one revision lower than what's out, IIRC).

 You know, Megaman and other NES games that I've done aren't exactly a secret. I've posted about it on multiple forums over the years and it really didn't generate much interest from what I could tell outside of small handful of people. But I continued to work on tweaking the emulation such on Megaman... because that's my baby. I did it for myself. I play and have played the crap out of MM on my PCE/SGX/Duo system. I mean, all this originally started out as 'hey, look what you can do on the PCE' sort of thing. But it turned into something for myself. I.e. it became a real project instead of just a 'demo' per se. Megaman 1 holds a special place in my memories because besides SMB, it was the first game I had when I bought the NES for myself. I spent that whole summer non stop playing MM, SMB, and Zelda 1.

 Anyway, so this MM 'project' has been around for a couple of years. I don't know why it's getting more attention now. Is it because people thought it was a real unreleased beta for the SCD (my blog is getting a lot of traffic for it. Forums, google, etc)? I have Megaman 2 in the works, all prep'd up, and could probably have it up and running within a week (with probably some minor glitches that would have to be worked out in the emulation core. It always works that way. A new game, more emulation support on the back end). I guess I'm subconsciously holding it for ransom or whatever >_>. I dunno. It does irritate me that a lot of the past responses about MM 1 have been, 'mm1 is ok, but mm2 would be great' - etc. I actually do want to upgrade Megaman 1. If I did do Megaman 2, I don't think it needs any upgrading. And, like nat said, other than novelty - what's the point of playing it on the PCE when you can just play it on NES or the Megaman collection for whatever system? I think that holds true for a lot of people (myself excluded though).

 There's actually nothing stopping someone else from doing MM2 or MM3, etc themselves (other than the skillset/mindset required to do this kind of work). I've provided the source code to the emulation. I provide a full example of how it works, including the Megaman rom with the changes as source code (not binary/hex hacking). Arkhan brought up the point that there are no comments (or barely any) in the source code package. But I honestly don't think that's an issue at all. It's pretty self explanatory that you replace the original NES LDA $2002 opcode with the emulation code JSR opcode (forget the name off hand), etc. And the back end emulation code doesn't need to be commented. The idea is to hack the original ROM, not modify the back end code. Plus, the back end code requires intimate knowledge of BOTH the PCE and the NES. I'd have to write a small book explaining all that crap. The scope of the project assumes you're pretty familiar with the NES on a low level and at least a little experienced with the PCE on a low level as well. And it's not like I'm dead (yet); people can ask me questions or for help (as long as I'm not ending up doing all the work for them). This type of project has a close connection/relation to rom and game hacker activity/scene (on a low level. Not just sprite/map/tile hacks). Those guys have no source or any comments. They figure everything out for themselves without anyone holding their hand. This isn't even has hard as that. I honestly and truly think that most dedicated hacker type wouldn't even have made a back end emulation core; they would have just replaced all the sprite/tile/tilemap routines and related data to PCE format. And just leave the initial core game engine/framework intact. This is what the NES 5-in-1 Finland compilation/release does. They actually hacked the game and data, rather than just try to emulate everything.

[Arkhan Asylum]

My point about comments was that, from a more open sourceable upgrade/fiddle around standpoint, no comments and a mess of assembly will deter most people, and all you'll be left with are the usual cast of hackers that would've done it anyway.

If you take the time to document the process better, it would leave it open for others who are less into hacking to start screwing with the game too.  Kind of like how there were tools released to hack Metroid and stuff for NES.   Something akin to that for the less-assembly-inclined people who just want to fuck around with Mega Man games.  

but what's the point, really?  Like you said, there isn't much interest and there are other remakes of these games already, so, the target audience is fairly small.

I know if this were my project, I wouldn't waste the time to comment it and leave it for others to mess with because I'm like 95% certain noone will really bother anyways.   So, it'd be like leaving yourself notes that you don't need.  The time could be spent more productively.

A real world example would be post it notes on your computer screen that say things like "Breathe!  Don't forget to blink your eyes!  If you have to pee, go to the bathroom!"  Captain Obvious Ahoy! 

[TurboXray]

...no comments and a mess of assembly will deter most people, and all you'll be left with are the usual cast of hackers that would've done it anyway.

 If you take the time to document the process better, it would leave it open for others who are less into hacking to start screwing with the game too.  Kind of like how there were tools released to hack Metroid and stuff for NES.   Something akin to that for the less-assembly-inclined people who just want to fuck around with Mega Man games. 

But that's exactly the target audience I was hoping to attract. Capable hackers. I wasn't interested in catering to the typical (?) coder or creating tools like editors and such. I'd leave that to the people that normally create such stuff. Most hackers don't even need such tools or just write 'em themselves. So I guess in the end I was just catering to a super niche segment of the community. And being for PCE doesn't help matters much either. If this was for SNES (or even Genesis), you'd probably see a lot more interests on that side of things. Oh well. I'm got my project and goal. No use worrying about the other stuff.