Wiki_MiSTer

Have you thought about building a RISC-V “fantasy computer” core for the MiSTer FPGA platform? https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki From a software-complexity standpoint, something like 64 MiB of RAM possibly even 32 MiB for a single-tasking system seems sufficient. Projects such as PC/GEOS show that a full GUI OS written largely in assembly can live comfortably within just a few MiB: https://github.com/bluewaysw/pcgeos At this point, re-targeting the stack to RISC-V is mostly an engineering effort rather than a research problem - small AI coding assistants could likely handle much of the porting work over a few months.

Check out as well: - MiSTer FPGA project on GitHub: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki (you can find there as well a link to MiSTer FPGA Discord with a section for developers) - MiSTer FPGA in 2022: A Primer Guide to Retro Gaming's Hardware Emulator / MY LIFE IN GAMING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhT6YYRH1EI - FPGA dev videos by Mister Retro Wolf: https://m.youtube.com/@misterretrowolf1464 - FPGA design books recommended by one of retro FPGA devs: https://archive.ph/Q30Xf

I'd rather suggest miSTer[0], rather than a parasite leeching on its ecosystem. 0. https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki

Thought I'd point out that this system has a really good MiSTerFPGA core that supports the Neo Geo AES, MVS and CD systems [0] if you'd like to give it a go and software emulators aren't your thing. MiSTerFPGA, for those unaware, is a project that uses a Terasic DE10 Nano FPGA evaluation board to reproduce older consoles, computers, and arcade systems in hardware [1]. And as a heads up, the cost for entry into MiSTerFPGA will soon drop sharply as there are clone boards for the DE10 and expansion memory boards that will cost well under half of current offerings. At under $99 for the DE10 clone and $20 for the 128K SRAM memory expansion that is basically a must have [2], you'll be able to run consoles up to PS1 / Saturn / N64 level. Above that you'll have to go to software emulation or hang on to see what the next round of FPGA-based retro

I think it's a bit rich to describe this as the 'future of video game preservation'. The MiSTer project https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki more rightfully deserves that title. It's got a huge range of systems (across consoles, arcade and micro computers) and it's all GPL licenced. The base board is a Terasic DE10 Nano which is proprietary but all other hardware required is open source. The MiSTeX project aims to make MiSTer portable across different FPGA platforms https://github.com/MiSTeX-devel so a DE10 Nano won't be mandatory enabling a new ecosystem of open hardware and commercial for profit solutions. I take no issue with people wanting to make money in this space. I take great issue with trying to gatekeep system preservation behind a mostly closed system you stamp an 'open' moniker on.

The advice I've seen regarding current videogames seems sound (particularly: Get a Steam account). Here's some advice regarding C64: >Floppy disk is incredibly slow Floppy really is slow without a fastloader. I use EPYX fastload[0], as an emulated cartridge on kung-fu flash[1]. Also consider sd2iec[2] as an alternative to an actual floppy drive. >it's super difficult to find new games (these floppy disks with games are crazy expensive on eBay) Research TOSEC[3][4]. Some archives[5] are available at The Internet Archive. And about retro-gaming in general: >maybe using a multi-system platform like the Overcame console? I suggest the miSTer[6], a multi-system FPGA solution, because it is open source and has the strongest ecosystem there is for this sort of thing. 0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epyx_Fast_Load 1. https://github.com/KimJorgen

The MiSTer project[0] is a wonderful open-source introduction to a practical use case for FPGAs. It uses verilog to describe how the DE10-Nano chip should be set up to resemble various classic computers, arcade machines, and video game consoles. With a single device you can have an Apple II+, Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and a SNES. Currently it supports up to the PlayStation for console cores, which is probably the upper bounds for the DE10-Nano. If you want more info, My Life in Gaming has a great overview video[1] of the MiSTer that covers it in depth. The entire project feels perfectly in line with hacker mentality and is exciting to watch grow. There's nothing like playing Super Metroid with an original SNES controller on a CRT at the end of the day. [0] https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki [1] https://www.youtube.com/w

There's also the MiSTer project: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki. Not hand-held (yet...) and hardware is less slick but a bunch more systems and also fully open source.

For those who have not heard of the "MiSTer FPGA gaming system" before: "MiSTer is an open project that aims to recreate various classic computers, game consoles and arcade machines, using modern hardware. It allows software and game images to run as they would on original hardware, using peripherals such as mice, keyboards, joysticks and other game controllers. MiSTer utilizes an FPGA board called the 'DE10-Nano', which connects to your TV or monitor via HDMI video out. It can additionally be expanded with various add-ons (such as a USB hub, SDRAM, audio and VGA out)." (from: https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki)

You can find links to a lot of old computers and game consoles implemented in FPGA here: - https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_MiSTer/wiki/Cores