SimCity prototype found!

Discuss technical or other issues relating to programming the Nintendo Entertainment System, Famicom, or compatible systems. See the NESdev wiki for more information.

Moderator: Moderators

FrankWDoom
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:27 pm

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by FrankWDoom »

the photo i've seen shows an eteprom board with no obvious alterations, so i'm assuming that's what's going on. away from home right now but i've got some famicom donors stashed away to try this on a cart.
tepples
Posts: 22708
Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:12 pm
Location: NE Indiana, USA (NTSC)
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by tepples »

If on ETROM, the city must be smaller than the standard 120x100 cell city.
lidnariq
Posts: 11432
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:12 am

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by lidnariq »

It turns out it's 76x76.

A few other changes have been made to compensate: PD/FD/RCI zones are 2x2 (not 3x3); power plants, stadia, and seaports are 3x3 (not 4x4); airports are 4x4 (not 6x6)
User avatar
dougeff
Posts: 3079
Joined: Fri May 08, 2015 7:17 pm

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by dougeff »

Is anyone selling these? (just curious)
nesdoug.com -- blog/tutorial on programming for the NES
tepples
Posts: 22708
Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:12 pm
Location: NE Indiana, USA (NTSC)
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by tepples »

We'll know SimCity is getting bootlegged if eBay prices for same-board Koei games (Bandit Kings of Ancient China, L'Empereur, Nobunaga's Ambition II, and Uncharted Waters) shoot up.
User avatar
lupin3rd
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:34 pm
Location: Evansville, IN
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by lupin3rd »

Probably not a huge risk there, as the NES version of the PCBs are all on games that are prohibitively expensive already.
"Can I keep his head for a souvenir?" -Max
Greg2600
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 8:32 pm

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by Greg2600 »

Argh, MMC5! Won't work on a flash cart.
lidnariq
Posts: 11432
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 11:12 am

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by lidnariq »

Might. It's not using much of the MMC5 beyond 8x8 attributes w/ 16k tile mode.

I wouldn't be surprised if Loopy's MMC5 implementation is adequate.
WhiteHat94
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2017 5:02 pm

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by WhiteHat94 »

It has screwed up graphics on Everdrive. It says it's loading on Powerpak, I have the loopy mappers, but then is just a black screen. So it does not appear to work on flash carts currently
User avatar
Dwedit
Posts: 4924
Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:35 pm
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by Dwedit »

Yeah, this is probably the only game that stresses the MMC5?
Here come the fortune cookies! Here come the fortune cookies! They're wearing paper hats!
User avatar
Banshaku
Posts: 2417
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:38 pm
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by Banshaku »

@lupin3rd

To make it from famicom boards would be easier since there must be a pile of Koei games in every bookoff shop :lol: (saw one 2 days ago, complete box for a few hundred yen).
tepples
Posts: 22708
Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2004 11:12 pm
Location: NE Indiana, USA (NTSC)
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by tepples »

But then MMC5 boards are longer than other Famicom cart boards. How would one roll a JOINT to fit it and the board in the NES Game Pak shell?
FrankWDoom
Posts: 260
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:27 pm

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by FrankWDoom »

there are low profile adapters available that will fit a tall famicom board in a nes shell. may require relocating some components but it can be done.
User avatar
Banshaku
Posts: 2417
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:38 pm
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by Banshaku »

Why am I giving ideas for making repro :lol:

Jedi move: there is no such thing as pile of Koei famicom games, no such thing.
User avatar
lupin3rd
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 4:34 pm
Location: Evansville, IN
Contact:

Re: SimCity prototype found!

Post by lupin3rd »

Banshaku wrote:Why am I giving ideas for making repro :lol:

Jedi move: there is no such thing as pile of Koei famicom games, no such thing.
The problem there is that NES owners would need both the gigantic ETROM PCB, as well as a 72-pin adapter, all jammed into an already crammed cart.

Disclaimer: I ordered my Famicom copy of L'Empereur yesterday. :D
"Can I keep his head for a souvenir?" -Max
Post Reply