various questions about flash carts

[djcouchycouch]

Has anybody tried the SNES PowerPak or the Super Everdrive?

How about the Everdrive-MD?

Can someone recommend a reputable online shop that sells them?

The Super Everdrive description mentions:

USB port can be used for OS update, games upload, homebrew software can communicate with PC via virtual serial port interface. All USB port operations controlled by SNES CPU, so USB port can not be used if cart not attached to console.

Does that mean I could compile a rom, send it over to the cart by usb cable and run it? That would make debugging pretty quick.

[qbradq]

Does that mean I could compile a rom, send it over to the cart by usb cable and run it? That would make debugging pretty quick.

So would an emulator

[tepples]

Debugging on hardware is still useful.

• Emulators aren't perfect. Show me one emulator that correctly reproduces the PPU's OAM corruption bug when turning rendering off early, as seen in versions of Tetramino before 0.32. I'm not sure, but I'd bet there are corresponding differences in the emulators for fourth gen consoles as well.
• Show me one debugging emulator that works without a $200 copy of Windows. Is NESICIDE for Linux ready yet?
• Several emulators that I've used have noticeable audio lag, which hurts accuracy in rhythm games. Good luck synchronizing your keypresses to MSU1 expansion sound playback when there's a 100 ms audio delay.
• Not all peripherals for third and fourth gen consoles have working adapters to connect them to a PC. For example, show me one working counterpart to the Zapper, Super Scope, or Menacer for PC.

EDIT: this topic was moved

[3gengames]

Jesus, not another "EMULATOR SUCKS AND REAL CARTS FTW" explosion. We get it, yeah, test on hardware as often as possible, but testing on hardware isn't sane. Sorry. I hate this topic vs real hardware, of course it doesn't completely compare, but it's the best thing for development HANDS DOWN.

As for flash carts, they might not be 100% compatible and even require donor parts from other games [SNES ones] but they're great.

[mic_]

Note that the OP didn't even ask about NES flash carts


On topic: you can buy the SNES PowerPak here

I think all of the stores linked to from krikzz's (the Everdrive developer) site are legit. I've ordered from kitch-bent in the past without any problems, for example.

[qbradq]

My comment was only a joke. And yea, the SNES development scene is a lot different from NES in terms of the accuracy of their emulators.

[djcouchycouch]

Note that the OP didn't even ask about NES flash carts

Sorry! I ordered a PowerPak just last week. I knew it was highly recommended here, so that's why I didn't need to ask about it. So, after ordering one flash cart, I was wondering about other platforms.

I think all of the stores linked to from krikzz's (the Everdrive developer) site are legit. I've ordered from kitch-bent in the past without any problems, for example.

Ok! Thanks!

[mic_]

the SNES development scene is a lot different from NES in terms of the accuracy of their emulators

Depends on what you mean. BSNES is a great emulator in terms of accuracy. You have more emulators to choose from for NES dev if you don't like the UI or something of one of them.

Sorry! I ordered a PowerPak just last week. I knew it was highly recommended here, so that's why I didn't need to ask about it.

The comment I made wasn't aimed at you. I just found it funny that a question about SNES/MD flash carts triggered a post about how NES emulators aren't accurate.

[thefox]

Sorry! I ordered a PowerPak just last week. I knew it was highly recommended here, so that's why I didn't need to ask about it.

The comment I made wasn't aimed at you. I just found it funny that a question about SNES/MD flash carts triggered a post about how NES emulators aren't accurate.

Can't really blame tepples for that misunderstanding since the question was posted under "NES Hardware and Flash Equipment"

[djcouchycouch]

can this be moved to General Stuff?

[qbradq]

SNES Dev might be a better spot.

[tepples]

Moved to SNESdev.

But most of the points I mentioned would probably apply to the fourth-generation consoles as well. I've edited my post above to explain how.

[djcouchycouch]

What prevents having a fast build/debug cycle on actual NES hardware?
Does the NES lack sufficient hardware to do it?
Maybe there's no real demand when emulators are good enough for most?

I know of CopyNES but it doesn't work for someone like me with no electronics skills.


Edit: I did it again. I should've asked this on a NES forum.

[3gengames]

Unless you add a real time debugger, hex editor, compiler all in one on a NES, it doesn't even compare. Sure, you may run into bugs when on real hardware, but that's why you test one working build of your program on hardware once in a while, as development on a console isn't fast enough.

[djcouchycouch]

Unless you add a real time debugger, hex editor, compiler all in one on a NES, it doesn't even compare. Sure, you may run into bugs when on real hardware, but that's why you test one working build of your program on hardware once in a while, as development on a console isn't fast enough.

I don't expect being able to do everything on a NES, as that would be silly. In a perfect world, I'd like something more akin to modern console development, like say the Xbox. Writing and compilation is done on the PC but the game is copied to the NES hardware and debugged there.

I just wonder what the NES would need to be able to do just that part. And in such a way that is easy for someone with no electronics skills like me.

And, I might as well ask for a pony