Develop the Genesis with modern parts?

[nathanallan]

It's late for me here, so I might sound ranting. Hear me out, it's an idea I have that's born of insomnia.

What if the Genesis was to undergo a complete redesign according to specs of the day yet using modern versions of the same part?

The 68000 processor has been massively upgraded just like the Z80 has-- SO many more features could be put into it that it is unreal.

The sound can be made better by far using chips that have come out from various manufacturers, not necessarily the ones that made the originals.

Brazil and Argentina has had the right idea for a while. They've been releasing clones that have new games and different hardware (Guitar Idol) but the upgrading gets lost in manufacturing; modern parts are more expensive than cheap replacement parts it seems, so they seem to go with those and sacrifice quality in a lot of cases I have seen.

So, what do you guys think? Techies, this one is really targeted at you lot, you know who you are

Take into considerations all the mods that can already be done but might be able to be done in software through a menu on the console itself.

So, while maintaining compatibility with original games, can the Genesis be made better knowing what we all know now, using tech we have now, sticking to the original as much as possible?

[Xeniczone]

Their is no incentive to do such a thing. The reason clones are so incompadibile is because they are a Genesis emulated using a microprocessor, and not much else. This is the cheapest way to go simply because modern microprocessors cost as little as a dollar in a production run, and only have to be programmed with the needed software.

Tec Toy, on the other hand uses the original hardware so to speak, it is really just a "real" clone of the Sega ASCI. These ASCI store most of the components of the genesis, so again not much else is needed to make a fully functional genesis.

The reason nobody has done what you are saying is because the costs out way the benefits. Why would someone want to spend 100 dollars for a new Genesis when a used one can be picked up for as little as 10 dollars. Though people do buy crappy clones like the Firecore, but that is probably because it is cheap and easy to get to, where as a used genesis can take some time finding, or require the used of the internet to buy.

[nathanallan]

The idea was not meant for a production item, but how far we have come in developing the individual parts past the idea of the original Genesis as a System. Agreed, it would not be practical to produce a clone like this, but I'm not talking a clone, I'm talking a total system overhaul.

What could be done? Could a Genesis-like computer actually emulate a Genesis?

Lemme get more specific.

There's a 20mhz Z80 chip out there that can do PCMCIA slots, SD controllers and much more I/O.

There is a 68K variant that is also pin compatible that can pull nearly 60mhz iirc and it's still a 68K.

Audio chips that are superior to the one that was in the Genesis were already out, now think of the ones that were out five years ago that are now obsolete but jsut as superior.

These are the lines I am thinking of. A homebrew computer usign things liek this but still retaining the Genesis mindset would be a great project to undertake.

So, anyone else? Again, aimed at the Tech guys out there.

[Jorge Nuno]

Its being done already on a FPGA, it uses an open 68000 softcore, a custom made VDP (of course) dunno about the z80 and no YM2612 yet...
See here: http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746

I'm sure the softcore 68000 can run at 100MHz or more :P


I never heard of a MD made of modern discrete parts, though. It would be a hell lot worse than doing it on the FPGA.

[nathanallan]

Its being done already on a FPGA, it uses an open 68000 softcore, a custom made VDP (of course) dunno about the z80 and no YM2612 yet...
See here: http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746

I'm sure the softcore 68000 can run at 100MHz or more :P


I never heard of a MD made of modern discrete parts, though. It would be a hell lot worse than doing it on the FPGA.

THAT

IS

COOL!!

Definitely something like I had in mind, but using the discrete parts you mentioned-- yeah it would be a pain, I agree. It means a board-up redesign. FPGA is cool, though! Thanks for showing me this! Point to you!

[Chilly Willy]

The modern "68000" is the ColdFire processor, and they have versions that run over 200 MHz.

While you can find an updated 68000 and Z80, the main part you'll have trouble finding an updated version of is the VDP.

[nathanallan]

The modern "68000" is the ColdFire processor, and they have versions that run over 200 MHz.

While you can find an updated 68000 and Z80, the main part you'll have trouble finding an updated version of is the VDP.

Right; From what I am reading that part can be done through FPGA readily. Over 200MHz? That's cool, I can see a lightweight version of Linux on that as well as running any Genesis/MD drive under the sun!

Neat, a computer that could be a computer that does anything you want it to (to an extreme) and a Genesis/MD without emulation, Natively.

If I can nail down enough on the idea side of things I (or someone else) might tackle it as a real project. I can think of two people right off the bat.

[Dant]

I had a similar idea except it was to build the best quality clone w/ modern parts.

Basically, discrete audio and a revised VDP that will mix A/V into HDMI and will do smoothing and rendering at like 1080P, along with SD slots for loading roms and (of course) a CD/DVD drive.

That's the kind of thing I think would be viable with newer parts.

[nathanallan]

Right, those drives are really easy to put onto a lot of things these days. You'd go with HDMI? I'd prefer to stick to s-video at the most; HDMI is still a bit expensive to deal with (from a consumer standpoint, $15 for a cable). 1080P okay, but being able to be downscaled as well. I'd want to play it on my 1996 TV set, after all .

[Dant]

Right, those drives are really easy to put onto a lot of things these days. You'd go with HDMI? I'd prefer to stick to s-video at the most; HDMI is still a bit expensive to deal with (from a consumer standpoint, $15 for a cable). 1080P okay, but being able to be downscaled as well. I'd want to play it on my 1996 TV set, after all .

HDMI for simply for the fact it is very common now. I'd also want to have lesser video hook-ups of course.

Also I said 1080P WITH smoothing, this is to make it not look ridiculously pixelated on a LCD TV.

[Mr Smith]

Seriously, re-design the Genesis with a toaster - that would be so awesome.