Wataroo - A New SuperVision Emulator

TailChao · 01/27/2017, 10:07 AM

I've decided to publicly release the Watara SuperVision emulator I've had sitting around. Now you can learn about another 65c02 cousin to the PC-Engine, or just unpack it then throw the emulator in the trash (just like a real SuperVision).

It also includes a little hardware test program to help fix broken units and confirm the weird behavior of the scrolling registers.

Only the STANDARD mapper is supported right now. I was hoping to get MAGNUM emulated, but I don't own that hardware variant nor a copy of "Journey to the West." The price on this garbage actually went up on eBay, and I'm not interested in paying it nor inviting more ancient hardware into my apartment.

Note that when loading ROMs the emulator will default to using the *.cdf extension which is inherited from another emulator I haven't released yet. Raw binaries are supported, just not the default option in the combo box. Of course, this is all in the help file.

Aside from the lack of TV-Link emulation this is probably the most accurate SuperVision emulator (as of writing). If you're going to huff paint thinner, you may as well do it correctly.

However, the port of Chimera B.I.T.S. did is actually quite well made.

Edit - Of course if anyone wants to donate SuperVision hardware to emulate that is totally cool.

esteban · 01/27/2017, 04:25 PM

I admit that I am curious about SuperVision.

LostFlunky · 01/27/2017, 04:56 PM

Didn't Radio Sack in the US carry these in the early 90's? I remember them having a binder of stuff you could order, I was looking for Obey and all they had was Supervision...

....please note that I did get hit on the head pretty hard the other day, so I have been merging the dream world with reality all week...

...also thanks to TailChao for releasing this...

ccovell · 01/27/2017, 07:07 PM

Heh, pretty cool. Although not a 'fan' of the SuperVision, I did own Chimera, and found a 27512 EPROM inside & dumped it in 2000 or so. Good memories, shame it was so crappy otherwise.

exodus · 01/27/2017, 08:08 PM

I'm glad you made this! Also... what are the odds you'll ever port Zaku to PCE?

ParanoiaDragon · 01/28/2017, 12:59 AM

Quote from: exodus on 01/27/2017, 08:08 PMI'm glad you made this! Also... what are the odds you'll ever port Zaku to PCE?

That would rock!

As for Supervision, I think it's ok, but then again, I haven't spent tons of time on it. i have a couple of them, plus tons of games. I never did find a tv link dealy. The consoles & games are/were stupidly cheap. I'm sure the Supervision is better then the Gamate. I have one of those as well with a few games, but it seems like they're much harder to find & games more expensive. I love showing them to people who visit, & they wonder what in the world they are!

TailChao · 01/28/2017, 11:39 AM

Quote from: esteban on 01/27/2017, 04:25 PMI admit that I am curious about SuperVision.

It's kind of interesting if you like off-brand stuff. But the manufacturing is very poor and the software quality is very worse. If I wasn't doing reverse engineering on the unit I wouldn't have paid money for any of it.

That said, there are a few good ideas here and there like the bendable screen mount and Audio DMA. The cover art for most of the games is also wonderfully bad. It's a great juxtaposition of "this is kind of neat" and "wait, why did they do this?"

Quote from: ccovell on 01/27/2017, 07:07 PMHeh, pretty cool. Although not a 'fan' of the SuperVision, I did own Chimera, and found a 27512 EPROM inside & dumped it in 2000 or so. Good memories, shame it was so crappy otherwise.

Yeah, most cartridges seem to just have either a glob or EPROM haphazardly stuffed in there. I can't imagine what the assembly line for this hardware was like.

Quote from: exodus on 01/27/2017, 08:08 PMI'm glad you made this! Also... what are the odds you'll ever port Zaku to PCE?

Very low. I think the PC-Engine already has many good shmups and I did not do a good enough job while designing Zaku to distinguish it from many of the games I was imitating.

I would like to work on a PC-Engine title in the future, but right now I am working full time on an action-puzzle hybrid for both the Atari 7800 and Windows. Whether or not I do another serious project for old hardware very much depends upon how the rest of this game's development goes.

Tinkering in my spare time though, is incurable

exodus · 01/28/2017, 07:45 PM

Understandable, but Zaku sure looks better than most everything on the Lynx, and better than a lot of PCE homebrew, so... well, I'd be happy to have it!

esteban · 01/29/2017, 01:03 PM

Quote from: exodus on 01/28/2017, 07:45 PMUnderstandable, but Zaku sure looks better than most everything on the Lynx, and better than a lot of PCE homebrew, so... well, I'd be happy to have it!

I second and third the sentiment.

Seriously.

TailChao · 01/29/2017, 03:59 PM

Quote from: esteban on 01/29/2017, 01:03 PM
Quote from: exodus on 01/28/2017, 07:45 PMUnderstandable, but Zaku sure looks better than most everything on the Lynx, and better than a lot of PCE homebrew, so... well, I'd be happy to have it!
I second and third the sentiment.

Seriously.

Haha, thanks. I appreciate it

.
Now let's see if I can ship something better

.

Again, I would really like to do a big project on the PC-Engine. I just want to first make sure it's affordable and will be interesting because the game is unique rather than just because it's running on something old.

Edit - Not that any of this has anything to do with the Watara SuperVision! Better get back to discussing classics like "Matta Blatta," "Witty Cat," and "Cave Wonders!"

esteban · 01/29/2017, 07:48 PM

Matta Blatta?!

looking in to it...

DragonmasterDan · 01/29/2017, 08:08 PM

Quote from: TailChao on 01/28/2017, 11:39 AMIt's kind of interesting if you like off-brand stuff. But the manufacturing is very poor and the software quality is very worse. If I wasn't doing reverse engineering on the unit I wouldn't have paid money for any of it.

That said, there are a few good ideas here and there like the bendable screen mount and Audio DMA. The cover art for most of the games is also wonderfully bad. It's a great juxtaposition of "this is kind of neat" and "wait, why did they do this?"

It's better than the Gamate. With that said neither handheld gets that much use from me.