book

Retro Gaming Hacks

by Chris Kohler

October 2005

Beginner

501 pages

15h 5m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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SupercadeArcade FeverDigital RetroVideogames: In The BeginningDigital Press Collector’s Guide
Online ShoppingeBay.Online retailers.Private online trading.Offline ShoppingRetail stores.Gaming conventions.Thrift stores.Flea markets/Tag sales/Yard sales/Garage sales/etc.
OdysseyWill the Real Pong Please Stand Up?Being an Informed Consumer of Pong Stuff
A Bit of HistoryBuying an AtariNecessary hardware parts.What games to buy.What to ask the seller.Running an AtariCommon troubleshooting issues.
Mattel IntellivisionColecovisionAtari 5200Atari 7800
First, Some World History“Toaster” NES“Toploader” NESNeo-Fami and Yobo
The Dying ProcessInstalling the New Connector
Official Re-released GamesGame Axe ColorGame Theory AdmiralPokeFamiAdoFami (Time Machine)The Shape of Famiclones to Come
Family ComputerAV FamicomFamicom Disk SystemTwin FamicomFamiclones
Online Import Game SellersNational Console Support ().Yamatoku ().Play-Asia ().Online Auction SiteseBay ().Yahoo! Japan Auctions ().Or Just Go to Japan
Collecting the VectrexFixing the VectrexEmulating the Vectrex
Why Handhelds?Web Sites of NotePopular Handhelds for CollectorsMattel Classic Football.Coleco tabletop games.Nintendo Game and Watch.
Arcade Cabinet Hardware BasicsFinding a JAMMA Arcade CabinetBuying used American JAMMA cabinets.Buying used Japanese JAMMA cabinets.Building your own JAMMA cabinet.
Golden-Age GrailsChase the Chuckwagon.Quadrun.Keyboard Component.3D Imager.Post-NES GrailsStadium Events.Nintendo World Championships 1990.Super Star Fox Weekend.
eBay and Other Online ShoppingGarage Sales, Flea Markets, and Thrift StoresBefore the sale.At the sale.
Jakks PacificAtari Classics 10 in 1 TV Games.Atari Paddle Controller with 13 TV Games.Atari Flashback 2.Activision 10 in 1 TV Games.Namco: Pac-Man.Namco II: Ms. Pac-Man.MajescoKonami Arcade Advanced.Frogger TV Arcade.RadicaArcade Legends: Space Invaders.Sega Genesis series.Other Sticks of Note
Publisher-Based CollectionsMidway Arcade Treasures.Atari Anthology.Intellivision Lives!Activision Anthology.Namco Museum.NES Classic Series.Single-Series CollectionsThe Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition.Sonic Mega Collection.Mega Man Anniversary Collection.Classics to Come
Classic Arcade Game CollectionsNamco Museum.Atari Collections.Capcom Generation.Konami Antiques: MSX Collection.Classic Home Game CollectionsActivision Classics.Intellivision Classics.
PopCap GamesNewgroundsOrisinalHomestar RunnerPoint-and-Click AdventuresHacking the Hack
Animal CrossingMetroidStar Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel StrikeDonkey Kong 64Star Fox AssaultPitfall!Mortal Kombat Deception
MAMEStarting a game.More command-line options.Playing in MAME.MAME32MAME Frontends
Configuring MacMAMERunning MacMAME
XmameGentoo Linux.Other Linux distributions/Unix flavours.GXMameGentoo Linux.Other Linux distributions / Unix flavors.Configure the path to Xmame.Configure the ROMs directory.Set gameplay options.Play a game.AdvanceMAMEGentoo.Other Linux distributions and Unix flavors.
Getting MAMEoXInstalling MAMEoX on your XboxCopying the ROM files onto your XboxPlaying the GamesEmulating Other Systems
Freeware Arcade ROMsHomebrew MAME ROMs
Capcom Coin-Op Classics
Downloading ROMsWhen the ROM Doesn’t WorkParent/Child ROMs: I Think I’m a Clone Now.When it still doesn’t work: verifying ROMs.Do it for me: CLRMamePro.
Buy a Classic MAME ControllerHotRod.X-Arcade.SlikStik.Make a Classic MAME ControllerPlanning your controller layout.Wiring your buttons.Finish Him!
Whither Samples?Finding SamplesInstalling Samples
How to Use ArtworkHow to Not Use ArtworkHow to Make Artwork
Planning Your Personal CabinetFilling Your CabinetControlling Your Cabinet
AdvanceCDUses for Your New MAME CD
Why Only Vector Games?What You’ll NeedHacking the Hack
OdysseyAdventurevision (…really?)RCA Studio II (…not that you would want to)
Atari 2600 EmulatorsStella.PC Atari.Finding Freely Distributed 2600 ROMs
Intellivision Lives!BlissNostalgia
Children of ColEmVirtual ColecovisionA Bit About blueMSX
Do the MESS-AroundStandalone 7800 EmulatorsThe Atari 7800 Homebrew Scene
RockNESFCE UltraNEStopiaNessie
FCE UltraGentoo.Other Linux/Unix distributions.FakeNESGentoo.Other Linux distributions / flavors of Unix.TuxNESInfoNESNEStra
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)Sega Genesis…And the Rest
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)Nintendo Game BoyAtari 2600Other Systems
Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)Debian.Gentoo.Other Unix/Linux distributions.Nintendo Game BoyGentoo Linux.Other Linux distributions.Atari 2600Gentoo.Other Linux distributions.
Sega Genesis/MegaDriveGentoo.Other Linux distributions.Other Systems
Emulating the Game Boy and Game Boy ColorSetting up BGB.Emulating the Game Boy AdvanceDeeper into Boycott.GBA on Mac OS X and Linux.
The Emulation Scene on HandheldsInstalling Emulators and ROMsAtari 2600Microsoft Smartphone.Microsoft Pocket PC.Performance.Game BoyMicrosoft Smartphone and Pocket PC.Palm.Symbian.Play NES GamesMicrosoft Smartphone.Pocket PC.Palm.Symbian.Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)Pocket PC and Microsoft Smartphone.Symbian.Play Doom on an MS Smartphone
Types of Flash Linkers and CartsFlash Linker RetailersWriting Games to your GBA
PocketNESSNESAdvanceDrSMSGoombaGBAGI
Atari LynxGetting Handy for Windows/Mac OS.Handy for Mac OS.Sega’s Game GearMultiple choices for emulation.Starting with MekaW.SMS Plus for Mac.SNK’s Neo Geo PocketLittle choice for emulation.Getting NeoPop running.Mac Users and NeoPocott.
MAME for GP32Beats of Rage GP32Go Super-Retro with GP81
A Brief History of DC HackingCreating a Bootable Dreamcast CDGoing Old School with NesterDCCreating the NesterDC disc.Loading ROM files.Beats of Rage
Xbox ControllersMaking an Xbox-to-USB physical adapter.Building the Linux kernel module.PlayStation and Other Controllers
WindowsMac OS X
First Steps: poking around DOSNext Steps: learning about the AppleDriving the Apple
Emulators and Things Suspected of Being EmulatorsSet Up a Real Commodore 64
WindowsLinuxMac OS XGetting Software
Finding and Installing MESSThe Atari Computer LineColeco ADAMThe Sinclair Computer SeriesTRS-80 and TRS-80 Color ComputerTI 99/4APDP-1 and Space War
Finding ListingsMagazines.Books.Online.Tips and Tricks for TypingHacking the Hack
Buy Classic Computer GamesDownload Classic Computer Games
Burning Dreamcast CDsAtari 8-Bit ComputersApple ][Other Systems
Gameplay Basics of Text AdventuresGetting Your Game On9:05.Galatea.Mystery House Taken Over.Hacking the Hack
Baf’s GuideOther Sites
What Made Them GreatPackagingBuying Infocom GamesThe GamesThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.Trinity.Planetfall.A Mind Forever Voyaging.Other Highlights
About MUDsBefore Playing a MUD—the SetupFind a game.Start reading the game’s web site.Find a client you like.Creating Your First CharacterTaking the First Few Steps
Remember the RulesPlan Out Your WorldCreate the GameThe INFORM skeleton.Make some objects.Add in items.
FreeDOSThis Old BoxPartitioning.Installing FreeDOS.Hacking the Hack
When DOS Roamed the EarthRunning DOS Games Using DOSBoxTweaking DOSBox for Speed and ConvenienceRunning Games with Proprietary Memory ManagersTweaking SpeedRunning Games that Require CDsHacking the Hack
The Old Days of DOSFinding the Classics
Enter DJGPP and AllegroInstalling DJGPPInstalling AllegroHello Allegro!Handling Images with AllegroHandling Input with AllegroOrganizing Projects with RHIDE
Jumping Into ZZT EditingRunning ZZT.Your first board.ZZT-OOP.Further Reading
Game MakerStagecast CreatorRPGToolkit
Set the StageGame requirements.Prepare the elements.Begin CodingSet up global variables.Launch the missiles.Make the Game WinnableHacking the Hack
Creating Homebrew 2600 GamesUsing 2600 custom level creation tools.Changing graphics in existing games.Coding 2600 titles from scratch.The Best 2600 Homebrew GamesSCSIcide by Joe Grand.Marble Craze by Paul Slocum.Oystron by Piero Cavina.Warring Worms by Billy Eno.Skeleton+ by Eric Ball.
Welcome to the GBA Dev WorldAssembling Your ToolsGetting Dirty with the CodeManaging the Video BufferDisplaying Images on a GBA
Load the Map into MemoryDisplay the MapThe Refreshing Taste of SpritesHandling Input
Cartridge PCBsDo-It-Yourself PCBsROMs: New or Used?Erasing and Programming ROM chipsErasing Used EPROMsProgramming ROM DevicesSoldering ROMs to PCBsCartridge CasesFinal Steps
Developing Eye-Catching ArtworkPrinting: Types and BenefitsMaterial SelectionPrinting LabelsPrinting ManualsPrinting BoxesAlternatives and Exemplary ExamplesFinal Recommendations
General Pac-ManeuversA Sample Pac-Man Pattern
Get 100 Extra MariosEnter the Minus WorldJump Over the Flagpole
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge LizardsDefeat the “Age Quiz”.Turn off the hot tub bubbles.Leisure Suit Larry Goes Looking For Love (In Several Wrong Places)Bypass the copy protection.Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patti In Pursuit of the Pulsating PectoralsDefeat the age quiz (again).Get around the copy protection.Leisure Suit Larry 5: Passionate Patti Does a Little Undercover WorkBypass the copy protection (yet again).See more of Chi Chi.Find Leisure Suit Larry 4.Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up Or Slip Out!Peek into the women’s shower room.Take Cav’s shirt.Leisure Suit Larry 7: Love For Sail!
Ocarina of Time 2DMetroid Prime 2DCodename: GordonDoom 2DGrand Theftendo
Capturing Retro AudioEdit Your AudioDo Something Cool with It

Content preview from Retro Gaming Hacks

How to Use This Book

We’ve divided this book along various topics, not according to any sense of relative difficulty. Skip around and flip through the book; if you see an interesting title or if some paragraph catches your eye, read it! If there’s a prerequisite you need to know about, a cross-reference will guide you to the right hack.