https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/ Cathode Ray Truths - X68000, PC-9821 and retro arcade projects. en https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/15/flame-zapper-kotsujin/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/15/flame-zapper-kotsujin/ Sat, 15 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000 There aren’t many great action games on the PC-98, a Japanese only PC known predominantly for visual novels, but there are a few occasions where developers put in the effort and managed to create a legitimately impressive action title. CO2 Pro, a doujin developer, is known for no less than three such games: Last Breakers, Garudius 95, and Flame Zapper Kotsujin. Flame Zapper is by far the best of the bunch but the other two are important for allowing the developers to hone their skills into a sharp blade cutting right to the hearts of Shmup fans. Shmup fans… actually I guess in 1996 they were just gamers. In the same year Super Nintendo saw Megaman X3 and Super Mario RPG, N64: Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64, Gameboy: Pokemon Green and Red, Neo Geo: Metal Slug, PlayStation: Resident Evil and Twisted Metal 2, Saturn: Guardian Heroes and Nights Into Dreams, and PC: Quake and Phantasmagoria, and Flame Zapper Kotsujin. https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/09/x68000-genesis-mega-drive-adapter/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/09/x68000-genesis-mega-drive-adapter/ Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000 When I got my x68000, I was really wanting to play the ports of Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition and Super Street Fighter 2 on the Sharp x68000. The official adapters can fetch some decent cash on eBay and Yahoo Jp Auctions so I decided, after some research, to make my own. I found that there are different schematics for 2 button games versus 6 button games. My first adapter was a 6 button controller adapter but with the knowledge learned from that project, I wanted to make another that allowed switching between 2 and 6 button modes. https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/09/wireless-x68000-with-8bitdo-m30-2-4g/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/02/09/wireless-x68000-with-8bitdo-m30-2-4g/ Sun, 09 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000 It totally works! If you craft yourself a Sega Genesis/Mega Drive to MSX/x68000 adapter or buy one from various retailers (I’ll add some links below) then you can use the M30 2.4g adapter on your x68000 for wireless, leisurely gaming. https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/01/29/pc-98-programmable-controller-pj-01-joycont/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2020/01/29/pc-98-programmable-controller-pj-01-joycont/ Wed, 29 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000 The Spital PJ-01 is a programmable controller that, according to the packaging, is compatible with the following computers (and possibly others): NEC PC-9801 NEC PC-9821 NEC PC-H98 Epson PC-286/386/486 PC-Club PC-286C What makes this controller special is the fact that it sends keyboard inputs (it can even do macros!) instead of acting like a controller. A lot of games on the PC-98 will make use of a controller plugged into the sound card or mouse port, but not all will and several that do may be missing buttons. https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2019/07/07/ode-to-arcades-2-cbox-mvs-and-jamma-console/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2019/07/07/ode-to-arcades-2-cbox-mvs-and-jamma-console/ Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Introduction Over the past year or so, the CBOX showed up unceremoniously on the various import websites (Alibaba, Aliexpress, TaoBao). It’s gone through a few hardware iterations and is now available locally on eBay and Amazon, though at a higher price. The CBOX is at its core a consolized Neo Geo MV-1C motherboard. This concept is nothing new and intrepid individuals have been consolizing Neo Geo motherboards for many years. The original CBOX came in two flavors, one with Neo Geo controller ports and one with Neo Geo and Saturn ports. It output RCA, S-Video, Component (optional extra), and RGB video and mono sound. It’s biggest hook was the price, you could buy one for under $200, a steal for anyone wanting to play their Neo Geo MVS games on their TV with original hardware! And with the proliferation of the XXX in 1 cartridges, you could get a full setup for around $300. https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2019/07/07/ode-to-arcades-1-what-made-arcades-special/ https://bitchinbits.foolproofdesigns.com/2019/07/07/ode-to-arcades-1-what-made-arcades-special/ Sun, 07 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000 I know arcade games have been around since the 1970s but this article is focused on the 90s which is my era of specialty. I grew up playing games in the 90s and I still hold a fair bit of nostalgia for these times. My early social interactions were at arcades, my first date was at an arcade, my appreciation for skill and competition were learned spending weekends losing over and over against kids that were just more skilled than me, and my interest in game hardware and electronics in general was instigated while watching a technician convert a cabinet to Super Street Fighter 2. I’ve done my best to not sound like a crotchety old man describing his long forgotten, over-estimated youth, but it’s difficult to deny myself these inclinations.