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PCE-FX Homebrew Development => Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs => Topic started by: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 04:54 PM

Title: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 04:54 PM
Hi Guys,

Aside from the db Grafx Booster TTP which I got working today, I also made much progress on this project:

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardturbografx-16homebrewflashcart4mbitprototypetestedandworking (http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardturbografx-16homebrewflashcart4mbitprototypetestedandworking)

dbCards will allow homebrew to have a physical release at a very affordable price. More to come as more develop and troubleshooting takes place!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Lochlan on 10/25/2014, 05:05 PM
That's great news!  Any idea how much these will cost (ballpark)?  I'm assuming you'll be doing volume discounts as well?

And I might be getting ahead of myself, but will you have some sort of casing solution as well so that devs wouldn't have to release games on bare pcbs?
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 10/25/2014, 11:11 PM
There is a simple casing solution in the works. As for pricing, it's dependant on ROM size; I'll most likely have hard support for 1Mbit, 2Mbit, 4Mbit and 8Mbit. ROMs smaller than 1Mbit will simply underutilize the 1Mbit chip - though I'll just say that Flash memory is pretty damn cheap so the price will be very good.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: cabbage on 10/26/2014, 12:00 AM
Excellent! Great work! :)
Title: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: esteban on 10/26/2014, 01:03 AM
Awesome.

(https://junk.tg-16.com/images/hany_in_the_sky.png)
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: touko on 10/27/2014, 04:36 AM
Absolutely great  =D>

I think also an UMDK card like for PCE/SGX should be awesome too .
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 11/03/2014, 11:20 AM
Project update: all ROM sizes now loading correctly on dbCards!

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardturbografx-16homebrewflashcartprototypefullyworking (http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardturbografx-16homebrewflashcartprototypefullyworking)

Now that the electronics portion is working, I will focus on making the next rev more consumer friendly - i.e. look and feel more like a real HuCard. More to come!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: technozombie on 12/03/2014, 07:45 PM
How close to original do you think the final product will look? Will people make repros using these and try to pass them off as legit?
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 12/03/2014, 09:10 PM
Quote from: technozombie on 12/03/2014, 07:45 PMHow close to original do you think the final product will look? Will people make repros using these and try to pass them off as legit?
I just received my prototype plastic which will serve as the PCB Holder for dbCards. While the shape will be identical, it will be impossible to pass off my products as legit copies. I know I can't prevent people from making repros, but the true intent here is to allow new games to be made by small devs. Here's a picture of my plastic prototype compared to a real HuCard:

(http://www.db-elec.com/home/downloads/dbCardProto.jpg)

Some major differences are:

btw, PCBs have shipped, I expect to receive them in the coming 2 weeks!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: HailingTheThings on 12/03/2014, 11:29 PM
^^ Effing sick! ^^

Thank you very much for doing that thing you do.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: esteban on 12/04/2014, 12:03 AM
L'awesome.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Artemio on 12/04/2014, 12:48 AM
This will be awesome, thanks for your work.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: roflmao on 12/04/2014, 01:42 AM
Woot!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 12/17/2014, 10:30 PM
Major update! PCBs are in and tested, looking good! Video and full story in link below!

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder (http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder)

Now the next major obstacle is to mold the plastic holder for quantity production.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Dicer on 12/17/2014, 11:22 PM
Quote from: db-electronics on 12/17/2014, 10:30 PMMajor update! PCBs are in and tested, looking good! Video and full story in link below!

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder (http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder)

Now the next major obstacle is to mold the plastic holder for quantity production.
Watched the video, that's really all kinds of neat...

Nice Work...
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: HailingTheThings on 12/17/2014, 11:55 PM
Quote from: db-electronics on 12/17/2014, 10:30 PMMajor update! PCBs are in and tested, looking good! Video and full story in link below!

http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder (http://www.db-elec.com/home/lab-posts/dbcardfunctionalprototypewith3dprintedplasticholder)

Now the next major obstacle is to mold the plastic holder for quantity production.
So coooooooolllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!11111111111111!!!!!!!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Orion_ on 12/18/2014, 06:39 AM
awesome work ! can't wait to release an homebrew game using this project ! :)
how will we program the flash on the card by the way ?
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: esteban on 12/18/2014, 06:42 AM
¡¡Wow!!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: jlued686 on 12/18/2014, 09:46 AM
You guys continue to amaze me with this stuff. Awesome work!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: NecroPhile on 12/18/2014, 10:15 AM
Looking pretty sweet, man!   Why not paint on the pcb (like the originals) instead of a sticker?
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Psycho Punch on 12/18/2014, 11:29 AM
Want.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: BlueBMW on 12/18/2014, 12:40 PM
Or instead of green soldermask why not have them done with black solder mask?
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: db-electronics on 12/19/2014, 01:54 PM
Quote from: Orion_ on 12/18/2014, 06:39 AMawesome work ! can't wait to release an homebrew game using this project ! :)
how will we program the flash on the card by the way ?
Right now I'm using a TL866CS eeprom programmer. Eventually I'd like to make a small Teensy (https://www.pjrc.com/teensy/) project to burn the games.
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: cjameslv on 12/27/2014, 11:28 AM
Just watched the video and damn that is so nice!
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: Tatsujin on 01/10/2015, 04:13 AM
great work db :)
Title: Re: TurboGraf-16 and PC-Engine Physical Homebrew Releases
Post by: spenoza on 01/10/2015, 11:09 PM
Now if only you can design add-ons (to the Hucard), like additional RAM.