3D Games on the Super Nintendo Without the Super FX Chip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szcxVM80JQQ&t=419s

"I've seen PowerPoint Presentations with a better frame rate."

The arcade game was one of my favorites.

Two Year Old Facebook Post

The word "sprite" is interesting. It means elf, fairy, or ghost, although it can also refer to flashes of different color lights in clouds caused by lightning. The word originated in the Middle Ages from the word "spirit". When I hear the word, I think of the Disney character Tinkerbell.

In computers and video games, a sprite is an image that can move on top of a background. Usually, these are 2D objects moving on top of a 2D background, although a game like the original Doom had 2D objects moving on top of a 3D background. The mouse pointer on a computer screen is technically a sprite.

Back in the days when computers and video games were 8-bit and 16-bit, it was helpful to have hardware support for sprites, which allowed graphical objects to move around independently of the background. The reason this was helpful was that it was more taxing for the old slow computers without hardware sprites to manipulate the graphics on the screen. When I was writing games for the Timex Sinclair 2068 and Atari ST computers, I had to write software to make all the graphics move because there was no hardware support for sprites, which made the task more technically challenging.

The early arcade video games used hardware sprites and so did all early home video game consoles. The sprites on the Atari 2600 are extremely primitive and very difficult to program, but the programmers knew how to make them work.

Many people have touted the Commodore 64 as the best 8-bit computer because it had hardware support for eight 8x8 sprites, although this is not very many compared to the Nintendo Entertainment System that came out later. I think that the Atari 8-bit computer had better graphical capabilities overall.

Once we had 32-bit processors, there was no longer a need for hardware sprites. These systems were powerful enough that it was not a huge challenge to manipulate graphics on a screen. Also, with 32-bit systems, there was a greater emphasis on 3D graphics instead of 2D graphics.

Top 10 Games EVERYONE should PLAY at least once!

Ms. Pac-Man

@john2001plus

1 month ago (edited)
I have played hundreds of games of Ms. Pac-Man.  Once and only once the first maze came up as the Pac-Man maze.  This was an odd glitch.  Reportedly, the maze still exists in the ROM because Ms. Pac-Man started as a hack of Pac-Man.

Occasionally the first Ms. Pac-Man maze will appear a different color.  Many people have seen this.  This is a glitch.  

Evolution of Game of the Year Winner 1980-2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTlGd-h4g6E

International Soccer (Atari 2600) - Chronologically Gaming

Hard Hat, Spectrum, Berserk, Spectrum, and Pac-Man graphics

@john2001plus
Hard Hat looks interesting. I was also going to suggest that it could be a Spectrum game. It would be faster pace without the solid walls. Gobbler looks like it was written in BASIC. I think that I could do better.

@simonebernacchia5724
i suggest either basic or FP compiled (was not too performing) - HardHat i wanted a speccy port so bad! (had a speccy at that time)

@john2001plus

Back in the 1980s I noticed that Berserk had a graphics limitation similar to computers like the Spectrum.  When the character gets too close to other objects it changes their color to be the same as the main character.  This implies that every 8x8 group of pixels can only have one foreground color, like on the Spectrum.  It either has memory mapped video with this color limitation, like the Spectrum, or it has character based graphics like the VIC-20.  Berserk probably doesn't have sprites.  I don't think that Space Invaders does either.

Compare this Pac-Man also released in 1980.  It has 3 color sprites that can overlap each other.  It apparently has a large color pallette since we see a flesh color in a cut scene.  I assume that the Pac-Man video hardware was much more expensive. 

In 1980 memory was very expensive, with 64K costing around a thousand dollars.  Memory limitations were often the reason why graphics were more primitive  The Atari 2600 is the ultimate example of this with only 120 bytes of RAM.  It would have been much easier for programmers if Atari had designed the 2600 with 4, 6, or 8K of RAM.  I wish they had.

By 1980 I had already written primitive games in BASIC on home computers.  Later I became I video game programmer.  However, I didn't know what sprites were.  None of the home computers had them.  So when Pac-Man came out, I was puzzled trying to understand how the game displayed its graphics.  It was pretty easy to understand how Spaced Invaders worked.  I assumed that each pixel was memory mapped.  I made a similar assumption for Pac-Man, but I assumed that it had a 16 color screen and that it was drawing the characters to the screen.  Since the characters can overlap each other, I assumed that it was drawing all the characters on each frame.

Just a side note:  Due to the limited number of sprites on the Galaga game, it uses a single sprite to display the double bullets.  It didn't have any sprites to spare.

Front Line (Arcade) | Galaxian (Atari 800)

Vanguard on Atari 2600: SIX GAMES in ONE?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAKaJpEE5Rw

The BEST Portable Emulation System EVER! (RetroBat)

Nintendo's 2025 Plans Are CRAZY - But It Might Work!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2dEvCgWVS8

Fantastic Voyage (Atari 800)

DEAR NINTENDO FANS: It's Time To GIVE UP!

There were many rumors that Nintendo was going to announce its next game system in October, which didn't happen.  Nintendo fans are extremely anxious for news about the next-generation system.

@john2001plus
2 minutes ago (edited)
The problem with the next-generation Switch is that Nintendo is stuck between needing to upgrade to compete with other consoles and the mobile hardware not being good enough to compete with consoles.   A two-teraflop system is going to be better than the first Switch but it is nothing compared to Sony's 16-teraflop system.  It is possible that AI upscaling will make it look amazing.

I am thinking of getting one.



@john2001plus
1 hour ago
I've been telling poeple for months that it would not make sense for Nintendo to announce the new Switch (Super Switch?) in 2024 when they will release it in March or April of next year.  They will still want to sell the existing Switch's for Christmas.




@Shany64
57 minutes ago
This is 100% the right take. As alluded to in the video the Wii U was doing horribly, Nintendo needed a jump into the next cycle. If you look at every Nintendo major console release all of them had an initial release in holiday season with the sole exception being the switch.

Nintendo is willing to coast into the holiday season, it probably ends up being one of their worst (probably a lot better than MS and PS) holiday seasons and then right before they meet with investors in March, they announce the Switch 2.



@DojoPwr
41 minutes ago
I agree. If I had to guess, I think Nintendo is going to milk the holiday season and announce the Switch 2 next year. Just makes more sense and aligns with how Nintendo usually thinks. They are using this time to announce all those other projects like the Alarmo Clock and whatever else they had in the closet.

Let's Read Electronic Fun with Computers and Games

Atari 2600 Keystone Kapers from Activision | The Third Time REALLY IS the Charm!

*26* Mind Blowing Atari 2600 Games!!!

Cheap Retro Game Emulation Devices - Cheap Powerful Mini Computer

China manufactures hundreds of devices that play retro video games.  These are technically illegal because Chinese companies don't pay royalties for these games.  These devices are a form of software piracy.   However, nobody seems to care.  You can buy them on the Walmart, Target, Amazon, and eBay websites.  I have ordered several from the Chinese Ali Express website which has the lowest prices.  (Temu sells the same stuff as Ali Express, but reportedly the Temu app spies on its customers.)

U.S. Customs could ban these devices but it doesn't.  I have heard reports that the government wants to crack down on IP infringement, but so far they haven't. 

I have bought several of these cheap handheld game systems and given them away as gifts.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804860822095.html

Although they are cheaply made, they are fun to play with.

Yesterday I found out about this 5 TB hard drive that contains almost every retro video game ever made.

This is plug-and-play with a Windows PC.  For more complex games it will need a cheap graphics card or APU, although the simpler 8-bit and 16-bit games will run on almost any hardware.

I was going to create my own emulation drive, which is very labor-intensive, but this drive already has everything set up.  The cost is $229 on Amazon, but only $128 on the Ali Express Website.  This is so cheap I ordered it.  An empty 5-terabyte drive costs almost as much.

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807318506307.html

I use an Xbox controller, which normally costs around $45.  I got mine for about $30 on Black Friday.

Last year I bought a very powerful mini-computer that has recently gone down in price.

https://www.amazon.com/MINISFORUM-7940HS-Barebone-Radeon-PCIe4-0/dp/B0C7V29HBQ/ref=asc_df_B0CC23D3HS

https://store.minisforum.com/products/minisforum-um790-pro?variant=43865372786933

If you need a computer that can play these games, this video talks about a cheaper mini-PC that is surprisingly powerful.

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-GTR5-Computer-Quadruple-Fingerprint/dp/B09J2MDZ9F?th=1

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806317944686.html

Let's Go to the Carnival on Atari!

I think that Carnival is underrated by everybody. I played it throughout the 1980s and the machine was around for the whole decade. I still play it occasionally through emulation, like on my hacked NES Classic. In terms of fun, I think that Carnival is comparable to Bezerk although most people would not agree. If you compare the 1980 arcade, which is a fixed shooter, to the 1979 Space Invaders, Carnival has more variety of play. I prefer it slightly over Galaxian, another 1980 game. Although the 2600 version doesn't have a bonus stage, it is really impressive and fun for a 2600 game. This is one of several 2600 games that I love. The others are: Battle Zone, Pole Position, Pac-Man Jr, and Boing!

How Atari 2600 Games Evolved Into Masterpieces!!!

The PS5 Pro Reveal will make you an XBOX FAN!!!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kBga7_tTSSU

@john2001plus
3 weeks ago
We need to be honest about the price.  With a drive and stand we are looking at $805 plus tax.  For that, I can buy or build a decent computer which can play games.  It might not be 17 teraflops, but it would be adequate, and also a computer.  This is not cost-effective unless you have money to burn and are fanatical about console gaming.

Both Sony and Microsoft promised 4K gaming at up to 120 FPS.  Now Sony is telling us to spend $800 to get real 4K gaming at 60 FPS.  It might be too strong to say that they lied to us, but I am feeling misled.

The PS5 Pro would need to be twice as fast to do what they are promising.  It is only 67% more powerful than the PS5, which is why they claimed "near fidelity mode" at 60 FPS.

The PS5 and XBox Series X are good consoles. I see very little reason to spend $800 to get a better frame rate in fidelity mode.  Neither will anyone else.

The PS5 is four years old.  Chip technology has improved a great deal in four years.  After four years, they should be able to give us a more powerful system for the same $500 price.


@AllDayErrDay.
2 hours ago
By your own admission, the PS5 Pro is more powerful than any comparably priced PC build. While you're correct about the PC being a computer as well, it hardly makes a difference if the primary utility for the appliance is gaming. Also, with the difference that it would cost to make a comparable PC, one could easily just buy a laptop for all their computer needs. Not to mention, your PS5 can perform most basic computer functions such as web browsing and even office tasks.
While I'm not ecstatic about the price, it is understandable, especially when compared to similarly specced PC builds.
Also, if you're not aware, these companies typically take losses on console sales as they can recoup the losses via software sales(games and dlc). While I'm absolutely sure they will be incurring some loss on the PS5 Pro at its current price point, the truth is that they aren't incentivized to lower the price further as there is simply no competing console to insight this course of action.



@john2001plus
2 minutes ago (edited)
 @AllDayErrDay.  You are correct about the power/price compared to a PC.  If money were no object, I would buy it.  The question is if I want to spend $800 on a gaming system when I could spend $800 on something else that might also play games.  For me, the primary utility of a PC is not gaming, but gaming is a nice bonus. 

The Xbox Series X is maybe 75% as powerful, currently sells for less than $500, and I have seen temporary sales under $400.  I am curious as to what the price will be on Black Friday.

Both Sony and Microsoft promised 4K gaming at up to 120 FPS.  Neither quite lived up to the hype.   Now Sony wants us to spend $800 to get what we were promised four years ago.  Apparently, we can't have both 60 FPS and high resolution unless we get a more powerful system.

Resolution isn't everything but it is nice to have.  I am more into retro gaming, so lower-res games can still be fun.

Maybe I would rather have a Switch 2.

Towering Inferno! First Stop the Fire, Then Save Atari!

Time Runner Released for Home Computers!

Atari 5200 Pack-in Game! Super Breakout!

Pushing the Limits of the 16K ZX Spectrum - The lowest low spec Speccy!

@john2001plus
6 minutes ago (edited)
The Spectrum and the Timex Sinclair 2068 have a weakness in the first 16K of RAM is interfaced through the video chip making it contested RAM.  The processor can't access this 16K bank while the display is being drawn to the screen.  That means any machine code in the first 16K of RAM will run slower than machine code in the upper 32K of RAM.  BASIC code starts in the first 16K so it has the same weakness.  It would have been smarter to have the video RAM mapped to the top 16K instead of the first 16K of RAM, but that would have been trickier for models that only have 16K of RAM.  They would have to figure out where the RAM was.

Given that the first 16K bank of RAM has this problem, it would have been smart to start the BASIC user RAM at the second 16K bank.  This would only show 32K RAM free, but the unused video memory could be used to store graphics or data.  Apparently, somebody thought of this.  In the 2068 technical manual available online, I saw a function call in the ROM that would relocate the BASIC code to the top 32K of memory.  This would give less free memory but make the BASIC code run faster.

Games That Push the Limits of the NES With Extra RAM