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>Any modern FPGA (or even an average CPLD) can run at speeds exceeding
>100MHz. The NES is what... max 4MHz? It's certainly possible to make
>an IDE interface, with some buffer memory, that would appear to be a
>normal cartridge, from the console's point of view. The FPGA would be
>configured to retrieve a game from the HDD, buffer it (at least
>partly) and then behave like a game cart. Using a 20GB 2.5 inch IPod
>Hard drive (easily fits in a cart, with lots of room to spare), you
>100MHz. The NES is what... max 4MHz? It's certainly possible to make
>an IDE interface, with some buffer memory, that would appear to be a
>normal cartridge, from the console's point of view. The FPGA would be
>configured to retrieve a game from the HDD, buffer it (at least
>partly) and then behave like a game cart. Using a 20GB 2.5 inch IPod
>Hard drive (easily fits in a cart, with lots of room to spare), you
Or you can go with Microdrive. Not as big as the 2.5" hard drives (I've seen 4GB models) but at 1" by 1" and under 1/4" thick it can fit inside GB cart and still hold the entire NES game library. And since they typically come in Compact Flash format you can easily swap the hard drive between NES adapter and the PC for updates or addition of NES ROMs.
>could fit tons of games, probably all games that exist (I don't have
>any numbers handy, but I think there are no more than 1000 - 1200. A
>quick calculation tells me that 1000 games could easily fit on a 10GB
>drive)
I have some 800 NES ROMs (almost all of USA versions) and they barely fill 150MB so 20GB is probably overkill. 1 or 2GB microdrive or even plain flash card would be cheaper. I think there may be another 1500 Famicom and several hundreds more for European NES. In all, 2500 total unique NES ROMs are possible plus hundreds of hacked ROM as well.
>I find this is a pretty good idea... when I get good at programming/
>hacking my new NES, this is probably going to land on my 'to try' pile.
It does sound like a good idea since I prefer to playing on a REAL NES deck over emulation because even the best emultor doesn't feel the same.
>While we're at it... using the same FPGA interface, it isn't much
>harder to include compactflash/usb drive/you-name-it support.
Just stick with CF support, easier to swap the card for updates. With regular hard drive, you'd need to open your PC, find a 2.5" to 3.5" adapter, hook it up, and boot the PC. A lot more work than with CF card and readers. Most PC sold nowday have multicard reader anyway.
The hardest part of this is not the interface between NES and CF/HD/whatever but the mapper control. Even emulators don't have all mappers for all NES carts and several Famicom carts. That brings up another question: would the mapper data reside within the ROM area of the adapter or be on CF card for software updates and mods?
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