Homebrewery for the older consoles?

Post by **Zork** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:45 pm

I was just wondering if there were any known homebrew projects for the older consoles like the Saturn ,32X, Sega CD or Genesis. I can understand why there is so much activity on the DC and how since it's the newest it may get more attention but I was just curious if there were ever any serious projects for the above three.

I know there is that yearly Saturn coding contest but I'm not gonna really count it since it's mainly just small efforts by individuals and not teams.

I also bring this up because of the massive amount of untapped potential in three of the four systems I mentioned, which would be Saturn (least amount untapped), 32X (most amount untapped by a longshot), and Sega CD. Some may disagree with me on the Sega CD but the way I see it, very few proper games were developed for it. I could see how some people may think it's pointless to try for Saturn as I highly doubt a homebrew guy (unless he was a former pro) could squeeze out as much power as say Yu Suzuki or Yuji Naka. So really there isn't too much left to proove with Saturn.

32X I am most curious about which is one of the reasons for bringing this topic forth. But what really sparked it was seeing the annual Saturn coding contest. I guess I'll also credit my intrest in programming towards this.

Post by **metaleggman** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 10:54 pm

I don't think there is any documentation out there regarding the 32X, so programming for it may not necesarily be a possibility tbh. Also, I wouldn't underestimate some of the programmers working on the saturn. Yes, maybe now they can't do much more than make simple 2D games, but that will eventually lead way to even more complex stuff as new methods of programming are found.

Post by **Zork** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:05 pm

metaleggman wrote:I don't think there is any documentation out there regarding the 32X, so programming for it may not necesarily be a possibility tbh. Also, I wouldn't underestimate some of the programmers working on the saturn. Yes, maybe now they can't do much more than make simple 2D games, but that will eventually lead way to even more complex stuff as new methods of programming are found.

Well I'm not really underestimating them because Naka and Suzuki are known to be ridiculously good. Especially Suzuki. I listed them as pretty much being at the end spectrum. This is only my opinion though but most of this is backed up, unless I'm missing out on someone else was damn good at getting the Saturn to cooperate.

And I actually I saw that someone bought a 32X dev kit but he doesn't have any papers on it,

Post by **Mozgus** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:23 pm

DC is also a popular choice because it requires no modification to play homebrew. Just burn and play.

Post by **metaleggman** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:02 am

Zork wrote:Well I'm not really underestimating them because Naka and Suzuki are known to be ridiculously good. Especially Suzuki. I listed them as pretty much being at the end spectrum. This is only my opinion though but most of this is backed up, unless I'm missing out on someone else was damn good at getting the Saturn to cooperate.

Actually, neither of them have programmed anything in quite a long time. They have been producing things, not really doing the nitty gritty work. Least that's my take of what the "producer" does.

Post by **Jubal** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:01 am

there are older than your thinking, but there is a VERY active homebrew community for Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, Intelevision and Colecovision.

www.atariage.com is the place to check, you can buy newly made carts of homebrews etc

-Jubal-

Post by **Zork** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:12 pm

metaleggman wrote:
Zork wrote:Well I'm not really underestimating them because Naka and Suzuki are known to be ridiculously good. Especially Suzuki. I listed them as pretty much being at the end spectrum. This is only my opinion though but most of this is backed up, unless I'm missing out on someone else was damn good at getting the Saturn to cooperate.
Actually, neither of them have programmed anything in quite a long time. They have been producing things, not really doing the nitty gritty work. Least that's my take of what the "producer" does.

Yuji Naka was actually lead programmer for Nights, that would be the last programing job he did I believe. As for Suzuki, I can't really find anything.

Post by **retrogamer** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 3:13 pm

Mozgus wrote:DC is also a popular choice because it requires no modification to play homebrew. Just burn and play.

That being the case the Sega CD would be an excellent choice for running homebrew.

Post by **Mozgus** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 5:31 pm

retrogamer wrote:
Mozgus wrote:DC is also a popular choice because it requires no modification to play homebrew. Just burn and play.
That being the case the Sega CD would be an excellent choice for running homebrew.

If it had the power of Dreamcast, that is.

Post by **Rooster** » Sun Jan 14, 2007 6:43 pm

I actually have this utopian vision of artists of coders coming together to revive the consoles of yore. As companies keep pushing the technology forward, they leave in their wake a wealth of knowledge and hardware that once powered the mighty systems past.

Retro is no longer a technical limitation, but an artistic style.

Is is my hope, despite the growing amount of antiquated hardware, developers and artists turn to these consoles as a viable medium of expression.

/rant