CRTGAMER wrote:I don't know why there are negative comments about this project. My suspicion is jealousy and not having the skills to do the same.
There are negative comments? Did I miss something?
jeffro11 wrote:Are we forgetting about the R2D2 with 8 consoles? Or about the MANY MANY multi console systems that appeared on TechTV in the early 2000's? The Super Genintari?
They may not have as many consoles as yours will, but you are not the first.
The controller I'll give you, sure thats a great idea, but the rest... no. Sorry.
I was addressing his statement that a multi console system was never done before. Which is a fallacy. A multi console system with one controller however hasn't been done before. But I don't really consider a multi console system with one controller all that different from the rest of them.
Okay sorry I brought it up. I didn't want to side track this great MOD thread.
So back on Topic:
bacteria wrote:The project is called Alpha Omega - the beginning and the end
The system will cover early to recent console systems, it will be the swan song in effect as after making it, it is hard to see that i'll be making more console systems. By the end of this project though, i'll have covered a stack of consoles, covered their board reductions, region modding (where I want to do it), composite/RGB modding, board reduction, general modding; documented various aspects of each console and fully documented it. When done, my site will contain a massive amount of modding information across a large percentage of all consoles released that were popular/fairly popular, and hopefully will be considered a core modding resource site over time. I will be taking my time on this project, hence anticipate it taking a couple of years to finish. This is also the best way to document a large amount of console systems.
Initially, i'm going to do all the modding to the boards and controllers to a system, leave it barebone, and move to the next one. When all the boards are done, I can then work out the dimensions the case will need to be to house and assemble it - i'm hoping the cart based system will all fit into a slightly thicked Intellivision casing, if possible; with rotary switch to select between console systems.
This is a big project; when finished will have a considerable amount of console systems using original hardware, into a fully integrated multi console system.
The cart based system will contain the following systems: NES, SNES, N64, Jaguar, Megadrive, Amstrad GX4000, SMS, TurboGrafx, plug'n'plays, maybe NeoGeo; Intellivision, ColecoVision, Atari 7800 (also plays 2600).
System two will be CD based: Saturn, GameCube, DreamCast, PS2 (plays PS1 too), Xbox; Amiga CD32 (maybe).
All systems to use ONE controller. That will be a hard part of the project. Interchangeable parts as needed too.
I'm going to start this project next week; the project will probably take the best part of 2 years to finish. It will be documented as it progresses, here and on my site.
The project will be rather complex, but certainly achievable.
This Mod is amazing, any Systems deleted or added?
CRTGAMER wrote:I don't know why there are negative comments about this project. My suspicion is jealousy and not having the skills to do the same.
There are negative comments? Did I miss something?
jeffro11 wrote:Are we forgetting about the R2D2 with 8 consoles? Or about the MANY MANY multi console systems that appeared on TechTV in the early 2000's? The Super Genintari?
They may not have as many consoles as yours will, but you are not the first.
The controller I'll give you, sure thats a great idea, but the rest... no. Sorry.
This guy.
This doesn't seem like a negative comment against the project, seems more like just a response to the "this has never been done before" comment.
but yes, it is amazing. I'm still eager to see how it all comes together. I used to fantasize about making such a thing myself, but I don't have that kind of knowledge.
This was the comment I made, which, if you read again:
"What I like about my Alpha Omega project, on a modding level, is my project is totally unique; never been done before and probably won't be done by others after me. That isn't an idle boast, it's a fact."
This is accurate, read it again, where I have stated before about my old Multi system being unique was that it is STILL the only system that made the console a cartridge and plugged into the controller and screen section, which was designed to work on whatever I threw at it within reason; rather than a series of separate consoles as a multi system. The fact I only make it work for a few systems before abandoning the project is irrelevant. As bad as my old Multi system looked, it worked fine, and has not been emulated since, hence the comment that it is unlikely to be emulated in the future as it hasn't been emulated in the last couple of years since I made the last one by anyone else to date. I also stated that I used the knowledge used in that project for making my master controller for the Alpha Omega, which uses a similar principle of working, which is why one controller can work all systems (the master controller has bolt-on console controller section as per pics). That again is unique; one controller unit for all consoles. Also, i'm not just using standard consoles that can use one voltage supply but having to accommodate about a dozen different voltages off one supply, which again is unusual - the usual consoles people make into a multi are ones that feed into a 7805 so need one voltage supply without worrying about negative voltages and step up and step down regulators. Also, yes, the most others have incorporated are 6 or 8 systems, i'm doubling/tripling that and with old complex systems too, not just "the easy ones".
Now jeffro11, if you re-read my comment in context and with an open mind, you'll realise I was correct in my statement. It is a unique project, and is liable to remain so. As I said.
Let's keep this thread clean, it is a build thread after all.
One question I've been meaning to ask though. Why didn't you use an AVR/PIC to handle all the controllers for the system instead of doing all that heavy duty wiring? Not trying to poke fun here or anything, but it would have saved you hours if not days to do it programatically. There's also a bunch of programmers here that would be more then willing to help you such as Niode or myself. Considering how badass this project is people would surely help in a heartbeat.
Also what are your plans for the xbox specifically as that's one of the only console's I really think is a great addition to a multi console system.
One final question, will you support multiple controllers for games that support 2-4 players?
I have no programming knowledge, and i'm using original hardware and controller boards. If I had the controllers at the console section then i'd need around 33 wires going to the master controller instead of 9, and have massive issues about switching between wiring at the base unit to keep isolated, which might not be achievable due to the complexity. It is do-able with the method i'm using, and requires no programming; as each controller board is separated.
Xbox - i'm not that interested in the Xbox games, although I have a few; i'm only really interested in integrating it if I can make the Xbox play MAME and use it as a MAME platform in the system for some old arcade classics not ported onto the consoles. I might integrate an Xbox anyway, but if can't get it working on MAME, probably won't bother. I have a few systems (3) to do before I look at the Xbox though. I want to tackle NeoGeo, Philips CD-I and also Saturn before the Xbox section.
Nope, this is single player only; I could make more controllers and add-ons, but no point as I only play games single player anyway, and would add a massive amount of extra work (extra master controller and sections) for more than one player. This is 1 player, 1 controller only!
bacteria wrote:
Xbox - i'm not that interested in the Xbox games, although I have a few; i'm only really interested in integrating it if I can make the Xbox play MAME and use it as a MAME platform in the system for some old arcade classics not ported onto the consoles. I might integrate an Xbox anyway, but if can't get it working on MAME, probably won't bother. I have a few systems (3) to do before I look at the Xbox though. I want to tackle NeoGeo, Philips CD-I and also Saturn before the Xbox section.
Perhaps make it modular or expandable for future console additions somehow?
I'm not interested in modern consoles, apart from a couple of games on my Wii; anyway, modern systems use wavy sticks instead of old style controllers, and given that the Wii uses controller and numchuck separately, can't be integrated into one base controller anyway.
Nope, i'll be integrating all consoles I can into one unit, given it's retro systems and not modern, there won't be need for expansion as i'll have all the systems built into it anyway that i'm interested in.
bacteria wrote:I'm not interested in modern consoles, apart from a couple of games on my Wii; anyway, modern systems use wavy sticks instead of old style controllers, and given that the Wii uses controller and numchuck separately, can't be integrated into one base controller anyway.
Nope, i'll be integrating all consoles I can into one unit, given it's retro systems and not modern, there won't be need for expansion as i'll have all the systems built into it anyway that i'm interested in.
Not to mention you'd be adding on to it every 5 years.
Honestly, I've lost all interest in consoles after last generation's, perhaps excluding the Wii. Anything else worth playing should have a pc port.
