Too close for comfort? the revival?

[emphatic]

Oh, wait, will this mean that someone could make a working driver for the Dreamcast to run these games?

Can't rule it out (if "driver" is construed to include a virtualization monitor with the blitter interface emulated), but I wouldn't count on it being easy. I'd expect that the Cave code is big-endian, as is typical for SuperH systems (can anyone with inside info confirm/deny this?); Dreamcast is hardwired to little endian mode. I dreamed up a crazy solution to that problem (big-endian SuperH guest virtualized on little-endian SH-4 host) years ago, but I never tried it because for that project it probably would have amounted to tilting at windmills.

Thanks.

Btw, why won't someone whip up a CAVE PGM emulator for the Dreamcast? There's a NEO4ALL and claims has been made that NEO GEO-games need better hardware than the PGM games...

[captpain]

The slowdown in that Mushihimesama video (which occurs once every half a second) is nauseating.

I wonder what his system specs are.

[austere]

I'd expect that the Cave code is big-endian, as is typical for SuperH systems (can anyone with inside info confirm/deny this?); Dreamcast is hardwired to little endian mode.

From the ROMs, I assume the CV1000B is running in big-endian mode. Also, though the BCR1 control reg has read only bits for endianness, the games write a 0 to bit 11, indicating big-endianness ... or absolutely nothing for that matter, heh. The PCB photograph at the world of arcades website is ambiguous, though, I don't have a board of my own to confirm.


(Snippet of a WIP, thanks to rtw for the original photo and helpful information)

EDIT: Forgot to say, if you want to confirm for yourself and have a CV1000B board on hand, check the logic level on this pin. If it's 0, the endian mode is big.

[rtw]

EDIT: Forgot to say, if you want to confirm for yourself and have a CV1000B board on hand, check the logic level on this pin. If it's 0, the endian mode is big.

It's big-endian.

Could I get a copy of the SH-3 image with the pinouts superimposed... please ?

[Frederik]

I

BA

RA

KU

RO

BLACK

LABEL

thx

Fixed that for you.

Seriously, that thought made me BUHMBAAH my pants. I can somehow cope with the blurry Mushihimesama PS2 port for a short while, but Ibara is completely unplayable for me. Which is a shame since I know below the vaseline migraine filter lies wonderfully detailed pixel art and gorgeous exploding debris. At least in Mushi the bullets are so big you can see them despite the smeariness, but Ibara demands being as sharp as possible. The terrible load times aren´t helping either.

Also, savestates. MAME has spoiled me forever.

I know it´s a pipe dream but I wish CAVE would sell these games on steam. No more console importing fuckery, no more out-of-print games. I want these games, badly, and I want to pay money for them, I just can´t justify buying, let alone importing a console for these game at this point.

I mean, people have asked CAVE about this, right? These games are going to be fully playable soon, there´s no way around it - they might as well take use of it. And add arrange modes to sweeten the deal

edit: still, I mean, holy shit so much happened in the last three months! We went from "Let's sit tight and wait for Ketsui 2015/2016+" to having it emulated along with DOJ and Espgaluda via Mame. Now this. And don't forget Arcana Heart 3 on PC. Damn.

Yeah, these sudden leaps are crazy. Maybe tomorrow there´s going to be free jetpacks for everyone!

[Obiwanshinobi]

I can somehow cope with the blurry Mushihimesama PS2 port for a short while, but Ibara is completely unplayable for me. Which is a shame since I know below the vaseline migraine filter lies wonderfully detailed pixel art and gorgeous exploding debris.

Er, I doubt it, pal. If Ketsui, DOJ and Espgaluda are anything to go by, no pixel art for you I'm afraid. Those sprites and backgrounds are pre-rendered all the way. Pixel art is something Cave doesn't do anymore.

[Frederik]

I can somehow cope with the blurry Mushihimesama PS2 port for a short while, but Ibara is completely unplayable for me. Which is a shame since I know below the vaseline migraine filter lies wonderfully detailed pixel art and gorgeous exploding debris.

Er, I doubt it, pal. If Ketsui, DOJ and Espgaluda are anything to go by, no pixel art for you I'm afraid. Those sprites and backgrounds are pre-rendered all the way. Pixel art is something Cave doesn't do anymore.

I think the art style in Ibara is terrific. Even if it isn't actually handpixelled it's really detailled - especially the enemies and bosses. My point is that I'm really looking forward to seeing the graphics without the lard filter. But I agree on the PGM games - especially DOJ looks garish in a lot of spots.

[Vyxx]

Guys it's like $250 for an Ibara PCB.... it's not exactly some unattainable goddess that you have to wait years and years just to play a poorly emulated version of on your pc.

[whoozwah]

250 dollars vs. not 250 dollars. I've been pretty spendy with my money lately since I got a jbox but 250 for a game is more than I'd pay. iono, I don't have a supergun to play a PCB with anyways.

[EPS21]

Wake me when it doesn't have shit slowdown and sound working

[Jockel]

Wake me when it doesn't have shit slowdown and sound working

I'd like to try it on my 4x3,4ghz CPU

[Frederik]

I've got the feeling that if they made it this far already, proper speeds can't be that far off.

And I happily take them without sound, I just make my own effects. RROKKETT. GATTOOLING.

[ratikal]

I've got the feeling that if they made it this far already, proper speeds can't be that far off.

And I happily take them without sound, I just make my own effects. RROKKETT. GATTOOLING.

I already make my own sound effects with shmups...when I'm alone. >_>

Try it, makes the game a lot more fun.

[joeboto]

I've got the feeling that if they made it this far already, proper speeds can't be that far off.

And I happily take them without sound, I just make my own effects. RROKKETT. GATTOOLING.

while i am happy with this thread, this post makes me even happier.

RRROKKKETTOOO. BAAANAAA. FUAIVU WAI!

[Frederik]

Yeah! Also, best explosion sounds ever. This game is just so fucking LOUD.

[Demetori]

Not so related, but I like the Metal Slug sounds.

[whoozwah]

Not so related, but I like the Metal Slug sounds.

ROCKET LAWNCHUH!!!

[TrevHead (TVR)]

While im a lover of emulation I dont like seeing them been released to the public while the game is still on sale like EspGaluda 2 is (Ive just bought a copy). I hope the demul team keep the 100% working version under wraps atleast untill the 360 version goes out of print.

Since Esp2 is the SH3 board what does this mean for current Cave games as theyre still using SH3 arnt they? I hope they have decent encrytion.

What kind of ppl are this Demul emulation team? Are they respectable to the IP and the origin developer like the core Mame team is? Or would they crack and release anything if theyre given the chance?

[BPzeBanshee]

Oh no, another 'too close for comfort' thread, somebody quarantine this NAO.

I'll be looking forward to this, nullDC has been going well for a while now as a Dreamcast and Sega NAOMI emulator though I can't ever seem to get any NAOMI games working because they're all ROMs intended for another emulator (WTF-BOOM). Only reason I ran nullDC was for Segagaga's R720 minigame which has some minor glitches in the movie cutscenes last time I checked.

[Ex-Cyber]

Since Esp2 is the SH3 board what does this mean for current Cave games as theyre still using SH3 arnt they? I hope they have decent encrytion.

I'm not sure whether Akai Katana represents a return to the platform, but it at least looks like they didn't merely convert AK boards from leftover stock of some other game (there's a PCB pic floating around with datecodes visible on a couple of the RAMs that look like they're comfortably post-DFKBL).

[Despatche]

it's not exactly some unattainable goddess that you have to wait years and years just to play a poorly emulated version of on your pc

You underestimate the process. You honestly think that this video is indicative of anything else besides "we're working on it"?

[Demetori]

Plus the lack of any technical information below the original posting of the video. It's really just a, "Hey look at this!"

[DocHauser]

I've seen clips of other stuff that doesn't work well on MAME running on Demul, like Dolphin Blue and Guilty Gear Isuka. Not sure about Demon Front - I don't think that works yet, but it probably won't be long...

Demul doesn't seem to run on my laptop, though - I've read that it has a problem with certain graphics cards, but maybe this will be fixed in the upcoming versions.

[Frederik]

it's not exactly some unattainable goddess that you have to wait years and years just to play a poorly emulated version of on your pc

You underestimate the process. You honestly think that this video is indicative of anything else besides "we're working on it"?

Here´s the thing: While I would love to play Ibara properly, I simply don´t care for it enough to spend cash on a PCB plus a setup to play it, not mentioning the complete lack of luxuries I´ve grown accustomed to, like savestates.

I have absolutely no problem waiting for it to be properly emulated. That it even runs like this, without sound and at a poor framerate gets me excited. Some people here seem to forget that not everyone has the money, dedication (and flat space) to go into full PCB collecting. I love shmups, but not enough to do anything in my power to play them. I love emulation because it allows me to play them in short bursts, practice any part I´m having trouble with (a big one for me!), and not having to bother with stuff like breaking hardware or importing. I have no problem sticking with the games that are already emulated - it´s not like I´m holding my breath on these things.

I´m not waiting to play it emulated because I´m a broke-ass bastard (though that certainly helps), but because I prefer playing games emulated. If there was a way to pay for it I would.

[mjclark]

Exzeal and Radirgy Noa are Naomi based too innit? So does this mean they'll be up for emulation?
They know not CAVE who only CAVE know.

[Despatche]

it's not exactly some unattainable goddess that you have to wait years and years just to play a poorly emulated version of on your pc

You underestimate the process. You honestly think that this video is indicative of anything else besides "we're working on it"?

<stuff>

Why did you quote me?

[Frederik]

Because I was tired and misread your post, sorry English is not my first language, so that happens sometimes.

[mjclark]

Just read on another forum that the guy who made all those videos says "all cv1000 games are working" in reply to being asked if CAVE games will be emulated in the next version of Demul.
This is a list cv1000 games:
Mushihime Sama
Espgaluda II
Ibara
Ibara Kuro Black Label
Pink Sweets : Ibara Sorekara
Deathsmiles
Deathsmiles MegaBlack Label
Do Donpachi Daifukkatsu
Do Donpachi Daifukkatsu Black Label
Mushihime Sama Futari Black Label
Muchi Muchi Pork!

So that's that then

[1up]

do they have sound? and will they be released?

[BPzeBanshee]

do they have sound? and will they be released?

No idea re. sound, but if the main website's page updates are anything to go by, we're still going to be waiting for quite a while.
At least it should be mostly working when it does.

Are we really certain this has nothing to do with that other bloke's preliminary MAME driver? I'm still a bit suspicious of all this developer's secrecy crap to be honest.