What should my mega project be?

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:09 pm

Ok its not a mega project really... But I have been thinking about my 4th year design project. I was talking to an engineer who was saying Id probably be making something in an FPGA. Which would be sweet.

So I was thinking of making something videogame-related. This project is still a year off but I want to make it incredible so Im collecting ideas right away.

here are some things I was thinking of. brainstorm with me:

N64 cartridge emulator
It has been done before (proof of concept! something to write about in a 40 page report, etc), and it could be totally awesome. Imagine loading your 64 games onto a micoSD card slot on the side of your portable. Heck, maybe I could even throw other functions in, battery management etc.

Gamecube DVD emulator.
Exact same story! I couldnt use ER's awesome project, Id be using a different FPGA anyways.

How about a playstation CD emulator?

N64 on a chip
Should I even have said that? It might hinge on which premade processors I can import into my design. I cant do everything

N64 complete redesign
This is a crazy scheme I started thinking about when someone else suggested it - you map out the N64 completely, then totally redesign it to be on a much smaller, double sided board, with the expansion pack, controller, battery stuff, etc, all on this one board. Then you take all those things, bake then in an oven to remove all of the components instantly, and then put them back on your new board. I bet you could make everything fit in the same amount of space as just the motherboard...

I dont know if that last one is a valid design project or not...

Ok Ill leave it at that for now... Reply even if you think it sounds stupid

Think of anything, not just videogames too. Imagine what sensors, motors, lights, screens and buttons you could combine to create something awesome.

jjhammerstein · Post by **jjhammerstein** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:19 pm

Do the last one
the last one
the last one
the last one
the last one
the last one
the last one
the last one

Post by **Skyone** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:22 pm

All of the above.

Though I wouldn't bother with the redesign, as it could be not only repetitive/tedious, but it wouldn't involve too much of your own intellect.

My vote goes for the N64 cartridge emulator, or possibly the N64OAC if you're feeling daring.

jjhammerstein · Post by **jjhammerstein** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:25 pm

how would a 64OAC work?
Would it be an emulator and a dedicated processor that are programmed to run from cartridges instead of ROMs?

What's the best N64 emulator?

Sixtyforce can't anti-alias for its life.

timmeh87 · Post by **timmeh87** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:34 pm

It would likely be a complete reconstruction of the processor logic in the FPGA, probably written in VHDL from a detailed description of the how the processor operates. And then all of the other external stuff could be brought in, the audio and video circuitry, the controller, etc.

Really, Really Hard.

DK · Post by DK » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:40 pm

I vote a mix of the N64 redesign and the flash cart for the ulrimate N64p, if that isn't too much work for you

tom61 · Post by **tom61** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:41 pm

timmeh87 wrote:It would likely be a complete reconstruction of the processor logic in the FPGA, probably written in VHDL from a detailed description of the how the processor operates. And then all of the other external stuff could be brought in, the audio and video circuitry, the controller, etc.

Really, Really Hard.

However, it'd be doable in stages. You program one thing and test it hooked to real hardware, make improvements in your implementation, then take over the function of another, then another. You would slowly reduce the number of chips needed from the original console. If something was not doable in the time frame you have, you still have quite a lot to present, and a functional demonstration.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:55 pm

FLASH CART!!!1!

Then it'd be way easier to test homebrew code.

themadhacker · Post by **themadhacker** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:56 pm

I would go for 64OAC, though it would be insanely hard.

ShockSlayer · Post by **ShockSlayer** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:39 pm

I got one: Work with ER!

SS

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 7:55 pm

N64OAC with a cartridge emulator built in.

Post by **Triton** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:10 pm

It would likely be a complete reconstruction of the processor logic in the FPGA, probably written in VHDL from a detailed description of the how the processor operates. And then all of the other external stuff could be brought in, the audio and video circuitry, the controller, etc.

I dont think there is an FPGA big enough to do all the n64 on one IC, unless you mean using the main processor and doing the rest of the chipset on fpga and even then thats a lot of hardware to replicate

XCVG · Post by **XCVG** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 10:49 pm

I vote for the N64 flashcart and the redesigned N64 board. Both would be a boon to portabilizing.*

*how do you spell that anyway

gamemasterAS · Post by **gamemasterAS** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 12:57 am

n64oac

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:54 am

somebody on atariage a while back tried to make a microcontroller function as a TIA, if I remember correctly. I suppose this can't be done with the N64, as it's much newer technology, but I'd like to throw that out there.

Also, do the last one!