Giving my PC-6001 a LIFT
The author details efforts to run homebrew games on the NEC PC-6001, focusing on creating a custom ROM/RAM cartridge for compatibility with Inufuto's games, highlighting retro computing challenges.
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The article discusses the author's efforts to run homebrew games on the NEC PC-6001, particularly focusing on titles developed by Inufuto. The author expresses a preference for modern storage methods over the traditional tape cassettes used for software distribution on the PC-6001. Inufuto has created games for various 8-bit computers, including the PC-6001, with many requiring an upgraded 32K machine. The author aims to play two specific games, "Aerial" and "Lift," which necessitate a 32K RAM setup.
To achieve this, the author builds a custom ROM/RAM cartridge that provides 32K of RAM and utilizes a modern EPROM socket. The process involves using an emulator to understand how the games operate, specifically requiring a 2-page mode and 32K RAM for proper functionality. The article details the complexities of loading machine language games into the PC-6001, including the need for a BASIC bootstrap program to transfer the game into memory.
The author also explores the P6 file format used for Inufuto's games and describes the process of disassembling the machine-language loader to understand its operation. Ultimately, the author creates a new loader for a cartridge ROM that mimics the tape loading process, ensuring compatibility with the PC-6001's memory requirements. This project highlights the challenges and intricacies of retro computing and game development on vintage hardware.
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