PC-FXGA Videos

sabre470 · 06/26/2007, 09:19 AM

Hello all,

Long time no post!!!

I have just restarted to use my PC-FXGA DOS/V board, I got it hooked up to a capture card, and I started making videos of games, demos and 3D movies rendered with the board.

You can see the first 2 videos on my blog http://sabre470.wordpress.com.

More to follow in the coming weeks.

Enjoy

Sabre

Nazi NecroPhile · 06/26/2007, 11:39 AM

Rather primitive, yet interesting 3D - thanks for sharing. Am I correct in assuming that these are using the 6273 in the FXGA?

sabre470 · 06/26/2007, 11:51 AM

Quote from: guest on 06/26/2007, 11:39 AMRather primitive, yet interesting 3D - thanks for sharing. Am I correct in assuming that these are using the 6273 in the FXGA?

Yep very primitive 3D, and yes it uses the 6273 chip.

I'll be posting some more videos later that show better use of the chip.

Sabre

Seldane · 06/26/2007, 02:46 PM

I just need this clarified- I've heard the PC-FXGA thing lets you play PC-FX games on your computer without actually having a PC-FX console. Is this correct? If so- does it work well? Slowdown? Anything like that? Do you need a "powerful" computer (powerful for being a computer with an ISA slot, hehehe) in order for the software (games) to run as fast as on a real PC-FX console?

Keranu · 06/26/2007, 03:56 PM

Awesome, awesome videos, thanks for sharing them! I assume there is no sound for them, right? I look forward to any other material you post.

sabre470 · 06/26/2007, 05:34 PM

Quote from: Seldane on 06/26/2007, 02:46 PMI just need this clarified- I've heard the PC-FXGA thing lets you play PC-FX games on your computer without actually having a PC-FX console. Is this correct? If so- does it work well? Slowdown? Anything like that? Do you need a "powerful" computer (powerful for being a computer with an ISA slot, hehehe) in order for the software (games) to run as fast as on a real PC-FX console?

Absolutely you can play PC-FX games on the card without the need for the console. It works really well, the card has the same hardware than in regular PC-FX therefore there are no slowdowns, actually loading time are faster on a PC thanks to faster CDROM drives. You don't necessarily need a powerful PC, I guess an old Pentium would do the trick. I am using a Pentium 2 266 Mhz with 64 meg of RAM. One thing you have to understand is that there is no emulation involved here, everything is processed on the card, it's all as fast as on a real FX. The PC is basically used to load data into the card.

Quote from: Keranu on 06/26/2007, 03:56 PMAwesome, awesome videos, thanks for sharing them! I assume there is no sound for them, right? I look forward to any other material you post.

Thanks, there is no sound for the 2 movies because its' only a graphical demo, the new batch of video I am preparing will have sound.

Stay tuned

Sabre

nat · 06/26/2007, 05:50 PM

So if I understand this right, the PC-FXGA has a 3D graphics chip that the actual PC-FX lacks?

Therefor, these demos would not be playable on an actual PC-FX, correct?

Mednafen · 06/26/2007, 09:15 PM

Does Battle Heat work using the FXGA?

sabre470 · 06/27/2007, 05:44 AM

Quote from: nat on 06/26/2007, 05:50 PMSo if I understand this right, the PC-FXGA has a 3D graphics chip that the actual PC-FX lacks?

Therefor, these demos would not be playable on an actual PC-FX, correct?

You are absolutely right, I guess the 3d chips on the PC-FXGA was intended to be an addon later on for the PC-FX but NEC decided otherwise.

I have two 3D games that are on CD, Nnyu and SameGameFX and they do work in the PC-FX, meaning the CD boots, but you can only hear the sound on your TV, no image is displayed due to the lack of 3D Chip. But at one point they were intended to work on real PC-FX with the ill-fated 3D adapter.

Quote from: Mednafen on 06/26/2007, 09:15 PMDoes Battle Heat work using the FXGA?

Yep Battle Heat works like a charm in fact all PC-FX are compatible with the card, though I've only tested the ones I own.

Sabre

Mednafen · 06/28/2007, 12:44 AM

How do you know they all work if you haven't tested them?

td741 · 06/28/2007, 09:57 AM

Quote from: sabre470 on 06/27/2007, 05:44 AMYou are absolutely right, I guess the 3d chips on the PC-FXGA was intended to be an addon later on for the PC-FX but NEC decided otherwise.

Too bad these things are hard to come by, it would have been interesting to see if someone could hack attempt to hack the 3D chips inside actual PC-FX hardware and be software compatibile to Nnyu and SameGameFX.

Nazi NecroPhile · 06/28/2007, 10:14 AM

Quote from: Seldane on 06/26/2007, 02:46 PMDo you need a "powerful" computer?

The minimum requirement was a 486DX-33mhz, which was a pretty modest system by '95.

Quote from: Mednafen on 06/28/2007, 12:44 AMHow do you know they all work if you haven't tested them?

Do you have to test every single PC-FX disc to know that they will work in a PC-FX? The PC-FXGA cards are essentially all of the PC-FX components on a single card and only use the computer to feed code to the card. They were meant for developers, so compatibility with stand alone hardware can reasonably be expected. That being said, there could always be the exception that proves the rule.

Mednafen · 06/28/2007, 05:20 PM

QuoteDo you have to test every single PC-FX disc to know that they will work in a PC-FX? The PC-FXGA cards are essentially all of the PC-FX components on a single card and only use the computer to feed code to the card. They were meant for developers, so compatibility with stand alone hardware can reasonably be expected. That being said, there could always be the exception that proves the rule.

The assumption that all "PC-FX" games will work on a "PC-FX" is more valid than they will all work on a "PC-FXGA". The PC-FXGA uses a different BIOS and uses somewhat different hardware registers for some functions.

Nazi NecroPhile · 06/28/2007, 05:42 PM

True enough, but I still believe that it is reasonable to expect 100% compatibility. We're not talking about home brewed or gray market crap here; it's official hardware intended for development. The point is that the PC-FXGA cards should be 100% compatible, but sometimes should doesn't happen (e.g. PCE-CD Altered Beast). This doesn't mean that all untested games should be assumed to be incompatible.

TurboXray · 06/29/2007, 04:09 PM

QuoteWe're not talking about home brewed or gray market crap here

see here:

QuoteThe PC-FXGA uses a different BIOS and uses somewhat different hardware registers for some functions.

No one is *assuming* any untested PC-FX games are incompatible with the PC-FGXA, just don't *assume* that all of them are 100% compatible. A PC-FX is not a PC-FXGA in a clam bake

CrackTiger · 06/30/2007, 02:26 PM

Awesome videos. Thats what I'd previously hoped the PC-FX could at least do without extra hardware(32X'ish), but still cool none the less.

esteban · 06/30/2007, 04:26 PM

Ahhh, it was great to watch these videos! I can't wait for the videos with sound

.

sabre470 · 07/03/2007, 07:32 PM

Quote from: esteban on 06/30/2007, 04:26 PMAhhh, it was great to watch these videos! I can't wait for the videos with sound .

Well the wait is over mate, a new video this time on SAME GAME FX is up and running on my blog.

http://sabre470.wordpress.com

Enjoy

Sabre

nat · 07/03/2007, 08:51 PM

Dude, that game actually looks fucking awesome.

That's a crying shame you can't get/play that game on a real PC-FX.

SuperDeadite · 07/03/2007, 09:35 PM

Wow it looks like Sega Swirl only 10 times better!

Keranu · 07/03/2007, 09:48 PM

Quote from: sabre470 on 07/03/2007, 07:32 PMWell the wait is over mate, a new video this time on SAME GAME FX is up and running on my blog.

http://sabre470.wordpress.com

Enjoy

Sabre

That's so rad to the max, thanks for uploading this great video! I love the music in that game!

.

esteban · 07/04/2007, 11:11 AM

Quote from: sabre470 on 07/03/2007, 07:32 PM
Quote from: esteban on 06/30/2007, 04:26 PMAhhh, it was great to watch these videos! I can't wait for the videos with sound .
Well the wait is over mate, a new video this time on SAME GAME FX is up and running on my blog.

http://sabre470.wordpress.com

Enjoy

Sabre

Man, that was a great video. I know there isn't much to "Same Game", but it was nice to see it in action. Thanks.

As a side note: Hudson really brought "Same Game" to a lot of "odd" platforms. When I was trying to find out info on the short-lived, GB KISS / GB KISS Modem for Gameboy, I found out that Hudson had released "Same Game Kiss" as a pack-in game (shooter fans should check out "Mini Sta Sol" as well!). Anyway, "Same Game" made it to the most obscure projects that Hudson worked on.

Seldane · 07/04/2007, 12:35 PM

What is Same game? All I know is that, officially, it features the crappiest title in the universe. Officially.

Turbo D · 07/04/2007, 05:27 PM

haha, seriously it does.

sabre470 · 07/05/2007, 09:40 AM

Thanks for your comments guys, I will do some more videos next week when I get time.

Stay tune there is plenty more to come, shoot'em'up, beat'em'up demo games, Nnyu...

Sabre

nat · 07/05/2007, 12:03 PM

I heard you were working on a translation for Little Red Riding Hood Cha-Cha.

What ever came of that?

Nazi NecroPhile · 07/05/2007, 12:31 PM

Thanks, Sabre. Pretty funky little game, though it likely didn't push the 3D chip too much. Hopefully the homebrew peeps will someday make that puppy sing.

nat · 07/05/2007, 12:37 PM

What I'm really hoping for is someone to figure out a hardware hack to add that 3D chip to the PC-FX itself.

I mean, how many people have a PC-FXGA?

Seldane · 07/05/2007, 01:10 PM

Nobody (except sabre470). There will never be homebrew for that one, for sure.

nat · 07/05/2007, 01:20 PM

Quote from: Seldane on 07/05/2007, 01:10 PMNobody (except sabre470).

I rest my case.

sabre470 · 11/07/2007, 05:12 PM

Hello,

So my 360 just died on me tonight, 3 rings of death!!! So it's time for a new PC-FXGA Video, this time the new video is on Nnyu the 2nd commercial games for the FXGA.

So see you on my blog (can't post HTML here ) http://sabre470.wordpress.com

Enjoy

Sabre

guyjin · 11/07/2007, 05:50 PM

ouch, sorry about the 360.

nat · 11/07/2007, 05:55 PM

Nice, never knew about that game before.

MissaFX · 11/07/2007, 06:40 PM

Quote from: sabre470 on 11/07/2007, 05:12 PMHello,

So my 360 just died on me tonight, 3 rings of death!!! So it's time for a new PC-FXGA Video, this time the new video is on Nnyu the 2nd commercial games for the FXGA.

So see you on my blog (can't post HTML here ) http://sabre470.wordpress.com

Enjoy

Sabre

That sucks, but it's nice you have that other hardware to play with. I am hoping that one day people will be able to make homebrew PC-FX 2-D games by maybe ignoring the 3-D hardware on the card or something. It's too bad they didn't make prototypes of the PC-FX 3-D add on so people could copy it and sell it now.

Keranu · 11/07/2007, 11:20 PM

Thanks again for the totally rad videos! This game looks wickedly wild and awesome!

geepee16 · 01/30/2008, 06:25 AM

This is really cool. I had no idea anyone had any progress with these kits. Is it easy to work with or do you need a lot of programming know-how. NEC originally talked about this being very user-friendly. SInce I have never actually used it, I can't be sure. I read once on a Japanese site that all FX games work perfectly so I think it's safe for us to accept that.

In any case, the whole idea f being able to play the FX on a PC was a wonderful idea (though I thnik Matsushita was the first to do it with the 3DO). The FX was designed to be a console sister to the PC-98 computers after all. I wonder if the PC-FXGA could help us on the emulation front in any way?

NEC was considering a 3d processer add-on which obviously never came out. They probably realized too late that the world was more eager to jump to 3d than it was to remain 2d. What intersts me is that the FX much have some extra horsepower under the hood ready to receive any such add-on. Could this 3d chip in the FXGA be 'plugged' into an FX?

Oli_lar · 02/02/2008, 07:14 AM

Good work Sabre!

Ceti Alpha · 02/02/2008, 11:09 AM

Those videos were awesome, and sorry to hear about your 360.

How MS went from manufacturing an indestructible brick house (original Xbox) to making the most fragile game console is beyond me.

My original Xbox (I'm the second owner) is a V 1.0 and still works like a charm aside from the extra fan that was put on the early models, which was eventually taken out. The fan will make a horrible noise for the first 30 seconds you turn the Xbox on. No big deal.

Anyway, I really like your site Sabre. Nice design.

Oli_lar · 02/06/2008, 02:44 PM

I see you have a few new nice pics on your site Sabre

sabre470 · 02/07/2008, 06:51 AM

Thanks for your messages of support for my 360, it's back in shape now though I haven't played much with it lately...

I'm happy you guys like the PC-FXGA videos, I've got more to come, there are still plenty of demos to explore from GMAKER/+ and the programming book. I will try to get some done over the week end.

sabre470 · 02/07/2008, 07:05 AM

Quote from: geepee16 on 01/30/2008, 06:25 AMThis is really cool. I had no idea anyone had any progress with these kits. Is it easy to work with or do you need a lot of programming know-how. NEC originally talked about this being very user-friendly. SInce I have never actually used it, I can't be sure. I read once on a Japanese site that all FX games work perfectly so I think it's safe for us to accept that.

In any case, the whole idea f being able to play the FX on a PC was a wonderful idea (though I thnik Matsushita was the first to do it with the 3DO). The FX was designed to be a console sister to the PC-98 computers after all. I wonder if the PC-FXGA could help us on the emulation front in any way?

NEC was considering a 3d processer add-on which obviously never came out. They probably realized too late that the world was more eager to jump to 3d than it was to remain 2d. What intersts me is that the FX much have some extra horsepower under the hood ready to receive any such add-on. Could this 3d chip in the FXGA be 'plugged' into an FX?

It's not particularly difficult to use, if you know DOS commands it's a breeze, the hardest thing is to install everything properly with no IRQ conflicts...

From what I understand there are no reasons why the PC-FXGA couldn't run all the PC-FX games no incompability has been reported yet. It's a PC-FX with the missing 3D chip...

I don't think one could connect directly the 3D chip on a stock PC-FX, the bios on the PCF-XGA is different but I guess with sufficient knowledge and hardware documentation it could be done using what's in a PC-FXGA but it would be a lot of work for a few games and demos. Emulation is the most likely option to play these I'm afraid. Note that the PC-FX is able to boot and play PC-FXGA games but you only get sound, no image.

With regards to Emulation the PC-FXGA bios has been dumped a long time by the FXer team and is widely available and Magic Engine is really solid and cheap. I guess the SDK could help developers in developing emulators.

nat · 02/07/2008, 11:01 AM

Since the FXGA BIOS has already been dumped, I wonder if it would be possible to replace the PC-FX BIOS with a flash chip flashed with the FXGA BIOS, enabling one to connect the 3D chip to a stock PC-FX. Feasible?

MissaFX · 02/07/2008, 11:21 AM

Quote from: nat on 02/07/2008, 11:01 AMSince the FXGA BIOS has already been dumped, I wonder if it would be possible to replace the PC-FX BIOS with a flash chip flashed with the FXGA BIOS, enabling one to connect the 3D chip to a stock PC-FX. Feasible?

I sure hope one day it would be. When it is, sign me up for a kit!

scrodamoon · 04/16/2008, 01:45 PM

you have much more info on the PC-FXGA im very interested in it.