HuCard games on CD

[Mishran]

That's, uh, quite the list. How far did you play into these? Or did you just test to see that they started?

I'm pretty sure 99% of these games crash sooner or later. I remember Appare Gateball starting, but glitching out almost immediately for example.

Oh, and Alex Kidd in Monsterworld? Surely you mean Wonderboy in Monsterland.

I played all of them just a few minutes each. I did no thorough play throughs. Thanks for pointing out my error. It's been corrected.

[Bonknuts]

It's interesting to hear what goes into converting them too. I don't claim to understand most of it but I get the gist and learn as I go.

 It works like this: the pce cpu handles all external memory (2megabyte address range) by mapping in 8k banks at a time. There are a total of 8 pages of 8k that form a single 64k chunk. This is called the 'logical' address range and is 16bit wide. Because instructions that don't use larger than 16bit addressing, so mapping needs to be done. For the rom part, rom starts at bank #0 or external address $0000000. When a hucard boots, bank #0 is immediately put into the last 8k page (MPR 7). The game must map the rest of the MPR pages itself, including ram.

 The problem lies in the external address range of hucards (2megabits and smaller) and where the SCD ram lies. They aren't in the same place. If you didn't patch anything, the 'boot bank' of the game would assume normal rom locations and actually be mapping in the system card memory instead. No good. On the PCE, mapping is integrated into the CPU as specific register and 'transferred' from the Acc register. This is done with a special instruction. The instruction is two bytes long; TAM #imm. The problem is that the value we want to change is in Acc, not some specific hard coded value. That would normally take quite a bit of hacking to do, and most likely rom expansion too. The solution is to use the BRK opcode. This is basically a software interrupt call (the only one PCE has). It's a single opcode value of #$00. The nice thing about BRK is that the byte immediately following it is skipped over on a RTI (return from interrupt). Inside the BRK routine, you use the stack pointer to retrieve that skipped byte.

 So the opcode $53 $04 (TAM #imm) gets changes to $00 $04 (BRK, .db #imm). Once inside the BRK routine, you have the value in Acc. Since SCD ram starts at bank $68, you add this to Acc and map it to the MPR that TAM was originally pointing to. There's a little bit of self modifying code to make the routine smaller, since this is running in a ram environment. And that's how it's done.


 nat: Thanks. I've never beaten DS. Maybe I'll run through it with a cheat/hack on to see how far it plays.

 Mishran: Originally I was just looking for games that are known beatable. But this list does help. Givens a heads up as to which games don't even boot (or rather what's not on your list), and a list of games to try out.

 The first game I'll start off with is Salamander, since that's what RetroRepair requested. Once that's fully working, I'll move onto the next game(s).

   

[RetroRepair]

Cool Smile Why don't we do this; start over from scratch. Well.. not completely from scratch but a new list of games. We'll add them as they prove themselves playable and beatable. Instead of the huge misleading list that exists as is. Also, I'll put a revision number on boot up so you'll know what version/build you're using.

That sounds like a good plan. Let me know when you have something to test 

As a side note; I can add Megaman ROM to the list since that's near complete. I'm reluctant to add the other existing 6-7 NES projects because as they aren't near as complete.

Awesome! I don't have a flash card or anything so I'd not be able to try it any other way

[Supremo_Lagarto]

[ul][/ul]The game on this collection that I would really like to see working is Ankoku Densetsu (Japanese version of Legendary Axe 2). All levels except 1,4, and 7 have corrupt graphics.

I looked over the Super Hucard fairly thoroughly.  I think it would be good to focus on first removing games that don't work, then possibly fixing a few of them.

These games work:
--Name of game------Directory-----Numerical Position--
    *NEW PATCH* Ankoku (Legendary Axe II Japanese / Ankoku Densetsu) ----------------1/E game 4
    Bikkuriman World (WonderBoy In Monster Land) -----------2/E Game 2
    Blodia (Timeball)------------------------------------------2/E Game 4
    ---note that the American version, Timeball, does not work.
    Boxy Boy-------------------------------------------------3/E Game 1
    China Warrior / Kung Fu----------------------------3/E Game 3
    as Kung Fu-----------------------------------------------:/E Game 1
    Columns-------------------------------------------------3/E Game 5
    Caravan Gunhed (Blazing Lazers Demo)--------------------4/E Game 1
    ---note that this game is repeated throughout the disc as Gunhed, but it isn't; it is just the time run demo.
    Deep Blue------------------------------------------------4/E Game 3
    Dragon Spirit---------------------------------------5/E Game 1
    Drop Rock------------------------------------------------5/E Game 3
    Hani in the Sky-------------------------------------------7/E Game 4
    Hot Blooded High School Dodgeball-------------------------7/E Game 6
    JJ & Jeff / Kato & Ken ------------------------------------8/E Game 2 & Game 4
    Shubibiman ----------------------------------------------9/E Game 6
    Legendary Axe / Makyo Densetsu--------------------:/E Game 4 & ;/E Game 1
    Maerchan Maze-------------------------------------------9/E Game 2
    World Stadium Baseball '91---------------------------------=/E Game 2
    World Stadium Baseball------------------------------------=/E Game 3
    Power Gate------------------------------------------------=/E Game 4
    Puzzle Boy------------------------------------------------->/E Game 1
    R-Type Part A-------------------------------------->/E Game 2
    R-Type Part B-------------------------------------->/E Game 3
    Skweek---------------------------------------------------@/E Game 1
    Son Son 2-------------------------------------------------@/E Game 5
    Space Invaders Plus----------------------------------------@/E Game 6
    Spin Pair---------------------------------------------------@A/E Game 1
    Super Volley Ball-------------------------------------------@A/E Game 3
    Titan-----------------------------------------------------@B/E Game 1
    Usa Basket Ball (Taking it to the Hoop) ---------------------@B/E Game 2
    ---note that the US version does not work
    World Class Baseball---------------------------------C/E Game 5
    Wonder Momo---------------------------------------------D/E Game 1
    Xevious---------------------------------------------------D/E Game 4
    Zipang-----------------------------------------------------E/E Game 1[/li][/list]

The following games seem to work, but crash during demonstration mode or do not recognize passwords:
    Alien Crush - also crashes upon Game Over
    Circus Ledo
    Winning Shot

I believe the following games work, but they feature heavy Japanese text:
    Artist Tool
    Double Dungeons (Japanese)
    Necromancer
    Maison Ikk
    Shada
    Mahjong Wars
    Outlive
    RyuuKyuu
    Shanghai
    Shoi Shoshinsha Muyou
    Stratego (Japanese)
    Tsuro Teruto No...
    Tsuppori
    Wai Wai Mahjong
    Victory Life

The following games will play a few levels and either crash or begin to show corrupt graphics:
    Dragon's Curse - freezes when entering a building
    Ankoku Densetsu (Legendary Axe 2 Japanese) - via level select code, levels 1, 4, and 7 are playable.
    *Ankoku Densetsu has been corrected in the new patch by the brilliant Bonknuts*
    Fantasy Zone
    Galaga 90 - freezes when you enter a warp, otherwise seems to play fine (this identical to Galaga 88)
    Galaga 88 - freezes when you enter a warp, otherwise seems to play fine
    Keith Courage English - levels 1-1, 1-2, and 2-1 are playable, all others corrupt
    Klax
    Kyu Tiger (Twin Cobra) - freezes when you hit pause
    Pac Land
    Takeda
    Takin' It to The Hoop
    Tatsu no Ko Fighter
    Victory Run

The following games will pretty much play exactly one level and after that level the game will either freeze or become completely corrupt graphically.
    Armed Formation F
    Paranoia (Psychosis Japanese)
    Salamander (Patched Version) - freezes after beating first level
    P47
    Mashin Eiyūden Wataru (Keith Courage Japanese)


All other games do not work.

Some notable games that will not even boot are:
    Gradius
    Crater Maze
    Legendary Axe II (US Version)
     Psycho Chaser

[Bonknuts]

Thanks for the more in depth list

 I've been pretty busy and out of town a lot, but this is still on my mind. (Finally got my user/pass setup on my laptop to post here). Possibly do some code for the autodetect app and run some tests. Got to remember to bring my sgx+scd with me on out of town work.

[Supremo_Lagarto]

The main one I would like to see working is Ankoku Densetsu (the Japanese version of Legendary Axe 2). That was one of the best side scrolling plat-formers on the system.

The first level works, but the second, third, fifth, and sixth levels have corrupt graphics, as if the game is attempting to take the graphics from the non-existent hucard instead of the CD-ROM on those levels.

[BigusSchmuck]

It would be interesting if someone was still working on SuperHucard and started to concentrate on games that cost a pretty penny (like Bomberman 93 and a few others). Just out of curiosity, has anyone looked at the setup on the demo of Bomberman 94? Might hold a clue or two on how to get bigger games to work with SuperHucard...

[nat]

Seems to me you could work enough hours to buy all these games ten times over in the amount of time you'll be waiting for someone to get them working for you for free.

[Arkhan]

thats funny, I had a similar thought about the translation thread.

[Supremo_Lagarto]

It would be interesting if someone was still working on SuperHucard and started to concentrate on games that cost a pretty penny (like Bomberman 93 and a few others). Just out of curiosity, has anyone looked at the setup on the demo of Bomberman 94? Might hold a clue or two on how to get bigger games to work with SuperHucard...

Unfortunately, Bomberman '94 is well over 256 kb. The way this works is that the games are loaded into the system memory, which means that only 256 kb games will work. This is why the Syper System 3 capability is needed for the compilation. It is using the 192 kb + onboard working memory. However, you would be surprised at how many Turbo Grafx games that you would think would be several megabytes are only 256 kb.  The code on each game has to be altered so that the game data is fished out of the CD and not the hucard, and that is the problem. Except for the games I listed, most of the games were not fixed this way and don't work.

As far as a Bomberman '94 demo (I didn't know it existed), that would have been reprogrammed to run as PC Engine Super CD game and would not have had the memory limitations of these hacked roms. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Seems to me you could work enough hours to buy all these games ten times over in the amount of time you'll be waiting for someone to get them working for you for free.

Excluding the Japanese text games (which I have no interest in), I have most of these games. I already own all of the ones I'm actually interested in. I could also just as easily load every decent game in the compilation onto a flash card (these games are tiny). I would just like to see them run on CD.  Legendary Axe I is my favorite of all time (well, Dungeon Explorer might tie it). This one works perfectly on this compilation and I have no interest in selling my original Hucard, what-so-ever. I have the original case, instruction booklet, and the original cardboard box it came in. I also have a paid copy of the Magic Engine which emulates almost all of the Hucard games perfectly on any PC you can find in a dumpster. The thing that fascinates me is that this disc is a way to play the original code on the original hardware. (Note that in the photo below, all foreign games have custom English spines so that I can display them in alphabetical order).

[nat]

Seems to me you could work enough hours to buy all these games ten times over in the amount of time you'll be waiting for someone to get them working for you for free.

Excluding the Japanese text games (which I have no interest in), I have most of these games. I already own all of the ones I'm actually interested in. I could also just as easily load every decent game in the compilation onto a flash card (these games are tiny). I would just like to see them run on CD.  Legendary Axe I is my favorite of all time (well, Dungeon Explorer might tie it). This one works perfectly on this compilation and I have no interest in selling my original Hucard, what-so-ever. I have the original case, instruction booklet, and the original cardboard box it came in. I also have a paid copy of the Magic Engine which emulates almost all of the Hucard games perfectly on any PC you can find in a dumpster. The thing that fascinates me is that this disc is a way to play the original code on the original hardware. (Note that in the photo below, all foreign games have custom English spines so that I can display them in alphabetical order).

My comment was in response to BigusSchmuck's comment.

[Supremo_Lagarto]

I have just been informed by Bonknuts that he has fixed Ankoku Densetsu (the Legendary Axe II Japanese) with a patch. Prior to his patch, the game would have corrupt graphics after the first level.

Using the level select cheat for stage select: I, II, I, II, II, I, II, I, I, I (at start menu), I have been able to verify that each level now appears to have completely intact graphics.

This is fantastic work!!! Thank you Bonknuts. I hope a few others will thank him for this as well. I'm leaving it up to him if he wants to post a link.

[Bonknuts]

I have just been informed by Bonknuts that he has fixed Ankoku Densetsu (the Legendary Axe II Japanese) with a patch. Prior to his patch, the game would have corrupt graphics after the first level.

Using the level select cheat for stage select: I, II, I, II, II, I, II, I, I, I (at start menu), I have been able to verify that each level now appears to have completely intact graphics.

This is fantastic work!!! Thank you Bonknuts. I hope a few others will thank him for this as well. I'm leaving it up to him if he wants to post a link.

 You can post a link to the hucard iso if you want. I don't mind. Though I didn't make visual indications in the rom list to show that this is a new version of the rom, so it might confuse people. Nor did I remove all the other roms from the list. Also, I glad you're happy with the patch (let's hope it's fully working. I didn't complete the game yet on this patch), but trust me this wasn't incredible or brilliant work by any means. I mean, thanks for the praise but it was just some simple opcode searching and testing. Took about a whole 30mins to make the changes. But if it means at least one person will get a good plays worth out of this, then it was definitely worth it

[Keith Courage]

Owning a whole mess of games for free just doesn't work for me. I mean of course I like it and I'd play them but if I don't have the actual physical game I flake out on it real easily. It's almost like I think that since it was free why should I put the effort into finishing the game. Especially when I can just switch to the next one. Maybe that's what having ADHD is like? lol

[nat]

Agreed.

The SuperHuCard disc as it exists today is a nice proof-of-concept, but serves little other purpose as far as I'm concerned.