Sega Mega CD Homebrew: Demos you've probably never seen!

[@GenesisGameGenie]

Great video! Thank you for featuring the work by Chilly Willy and Oerg. They where both inspirations to me while I was first playing around with Genesis/MD homebrew, and deserve a lot of recognition. I'm the one who made the DMA David game. I can't remember exactly when I first learned of the color DMA trick, but I thought it was super cool. and wanted to try it myself. I definitely agree that many of the images don't showcase the strengths of the direct color DMA trick. While working on the game, I actually remember asking myself whether or not I should just use the standard graphics mode. Many stills used in that game might actually look better in the normal mode. I just pushed on with the DMA mode, as I really just wanted play with the experimental graphics mode than anything. As you can all probably imagine, the game was more about experimenting with code, rather than creating a game ; ) I thought about creating a more refined sequel. Either a more fleshed out game with branching paths and multiple endings, or some sort of "escape" kind of game similar those flash games that were popular in the 2000s. It could still happen, one of these days. All the best!

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks! What a great bit of insight 🙂 The mode is a tough cookie to crack. What I found when experimenting was that close up shots with dithering applied worked best. Anything based around a scene with multiple objects just never seemed to look very clear for me. Your demo is an absolute rarity and shows that you can work with the mode on the mega drive if you do things in the right way 🙂 I was going to ask if I could add your source code to the GitHub? Obviously the work would be credit completely as yours.

[@RetroSegaDev]

P.s. I'd forgotten just how much homebrew you'd done! Gravity pig was ace!

[@f.k.b.16]

I know enough code to make a newbie look like a seasoned pro! Man... I would really like to see what the SEGA CD was really capable of and I hope someone at least gives these a little love for a megademo.

[@RetroSegaDev]

It certainly opens some doors. There is an entire Sega CD Dev Kit attached to these demos for people to use 👍

[@hopetagulos]

If the Sega CD had displayed many more colors in the games it would have been successful and would have compensated for the high price at the time (1991-'93). Visually, identical to the "conventional" Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

[@LiquidreamUK]

Nice video, Matt! 👍 Great job highlighting some interesting projects. 🤓

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks Paul! Much appreciated 😁

[@viciious1234]

You’ve really upped your game with this new video and the work that has gone into making it )

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks Vic! I'm chuffed to hear that 🙂 now it's just topping this one... Maybe that 32xCD video 😁

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

Great video! If you ever have the time and inclination, I'd love to see a video on the scaling capabilities of the Mega CD. For example, could it produce a faithful port of the SNES Mario Kart? Also, for the Samurai Showdown port would it have been possible to use the ASICS chip to do the zoom in/out effect on the sprites/backgrounds, or would that have slowed down the framerate too much?

[@thehumbleone1983]

I enjoy your KZbin channel and your videos are great 👍

[@RetroSegaDev]

Scaling Fatal Fury is a definite no. It can only use 16 colours + scaling a whole screen of tiles is restricted by all the same problems the MD has on its own.

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

@@thehumbleone1983 Thanks!

[@PigsysRetroGameDevTutorials]

@@RetroSegaDev Thanks for the explanation. The more I learn about the system, the more I realise how much it was restricted by being attached to the MD

[@Fuuntag]

Fantastic video, appreciate the well informed delivery and easily digestible format and the github links.

[@RetrogradeScene]

Nice round up! I think you explain things really well!!

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks! I'm sure some folk will be lost but tried my best 😁

[@RetrogradeScene]

@@ScotsmanGamer As a dev I like to see all the tech demos even if they end up going nowhere. Also you can share a video to Patrons and friends before it goes live. I’m guessing that’s where the likes are from. Unfortunately there’s not a way to add fake likes!! 😉

[@RetroSegaDev]

Most of these projects were conceived prior to the homebrew game scene really taking off and all but the hardcore won't know of their existence. I'd understand your disappointment in my channel a bit more (not at all actually) was I at 20 or 30k of subs but I'm a tiny channel...

[@Genesis814]

Really impressive. Congrats!

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks! Some new demos for you to feature perhaps? 😁

[@Genesis814]

@@RetroSegaDev I hope so. :-)

[@leighbyford635]

I love Chilly willy. I have been following his work for years, mainly for the 32x. He must be incredibly intelligent. I salute Mr Willy.

[@winlover37]

That is a name I have not heard in a long time. I remember seeing his stuff showcased on MN12BIRD's channel back when that was going, also a name I haven't heard in a long time. Chilly willy is a legend

[@bundjohn]

That’s awesome, it’s always so cool to see what homebrew can do with the system as I do think there is so much untapped potential in the tower of power. I don’t suppose you can point me to any documentation about how people handle the 50Hz/60Hz difference? My googling isn’t coming up with anything and I would like to port a Sega CD game to PAL.

[@thehumbleone1983]

Great video MatteusBeus Retro Sega 👍 I always loved the MEGA CD growing up but my mum couldn’t get it for me back then as a kid. I also watched a video from Pigsy Retro who’s doing the Mega Drive Symphony of the Night he mentioned in one of his videos that Seth the creator of SGDK was working on something like SGDK for Mega Cd and I think if enough of us from the retro gaming community help try to support Seth so he could make it and would be amazing as I think the Mega Cd was capable of so much especially with talented people like you Matteus retro and Pigsy Retro plus many other people in the community

[@Sh0tgunJust1ce]

Damn, I want to watch The Dark Knight in Sega CD quality now.

[@RetroSegaDev]

😂

[@WhatHoSnorkers]

Fantastic stuff, sir!

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks you kind sir 🙂

[@mortenera2294]

I've always wondered something about the Mega CD: Isn't it possible to make a RAM expansion cart aimed at things other than save files? It would really help with games like Fatal Fury Special, adding more frames of animation and such

[@RetroSegaDev]

Not a RAM cart as we know it but a ROM cart of sorts. See my earlier Sega CD videos 🙂

[@xXBeefyDjXx]

Great video! It makes me wonder though, with Chilly Willy's MOD Player how possible it could be to make a full stack version that utilizes the 32x, CD and MD RAM all at once...

[@RetroSegaDev]

Wouldn't make a great deal of difference realistically as the RAM isn't easily accessible across add-ons. There is an equivalent MOD player for the 32x PWM which you can do more with.

[@maroon9273]

Cool mods/homebrewd, hopefully someone can create cleaner/clearer sound effect mod for the genesis. Also, easier access to the dma color count and pallettes for color mods/hacks.

[@RetroSegaDev]

I gather folk are actively working on mod players for MD and 32x! 🙂

[@maroon9273]

@@RetroSegaDev awesome and how about dma color count/pallete mods/hacks?

[@RetroSegaDev]

Nothing yet but the source code is now openly available on GitHub for people to use 🤞

[@JohnnyWednesday]

Great video :) thank you!

[@RetroSegaDev]

You're welcome Johnny! I'm glad you enjoyed it :)

[@videogamemusicrenditionsby7625]

Great stuff as usual...

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thanks CapricornX!

[@axelguzman8432]

Viva sega siempre siempre eternamente y ojalá agan muchos más juegos para el Sega CD y 32X usando todas sus capacidades técnicas al 100%

[@electronash]

Great vid, mate. It's like a nice bite-sized weekly nerd news. ;)

[@RetroSegaDev]

Ha ha, yes! I'm proud of this one. It's took a bit of momentum out of my KZbin sails though. A month to get the source code nicely arranged, updated using docker and into GitHub and another month to script, film and edit. I might do a proper weekly nerd news next tho as they're a lot less taxing to produce 😁 and there's shed loads of news!

[@electronash]

@@RetroSegaDev I've been thiking about attempting "proper" YT vids for about ten years now. I have hang-ups about talking even on the mic, but I also realize just how much work goes into making vids. I've heard that it's hard enough just writing a script, let alone doing animations etc. Please keep it up, though. I think you could do well with this content.

[@RetroSegaDev]

You really should give it a go! You're a fountain of knowledge! It is hard work though. This one probably more so because of the coding work! 😁

[@ksuch1939]

I have a question. When the "Mega cd" is attached to the "mega drive" and we play a cartridge game, which 68000 processes the game? The 68000 of the "mega drive" or the 68000 of the "mega cd"?

[@RetroSegaDev]

It uses the mega drive CPU. The Sega CD CPU requires the mega drive game to run some boot code to use it 🙂

[@ksuch1939]

@@RetroSegaDev Thanks🖖

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor Saludos desde Michoacán de Ocampo México un abrazo

[@RetroSegaDev]

Hello there!

[@axelguzman8432]

@@RetroSegaDev que tal Bro

[@roydriver8956]

Please Sir can i have more? More Mega CD stuff thanks!!!

[@zombie343]

I need the latest doom resurrection in cart form. Is it technically a 32X+CD game or just 32x?

[@RetroSegaDev]

It's cart only but can use the CD for audio.

[@SegaCDUniverse]

Nice!!

[@RetroSegaDev]

Thank Sega CD Universe! Do you still do Sega CD videos? :D I'm see a lot of horror stuff ha!

[@GadgetUK164]

Cool =D

[@RetroSegaDev]

Ta muchly! 🙂

[@garethbeaton8414]

Whats best emulater for this i cart find a good one on hd 10 fier tablet 11 gen

[@RetroSegaDev]

Might struggle on tablets there's limited support because it requres accurate timings.

[@TechRyze]

3:06 - I guess its utility also depends on how large each image is, and whether the images are easily compressed to speed up load times. I'll have a play with this stuff. Cheers!

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor Si el Sonic cd está estupendo 👌 El Sonic cd 2 aún se notaría mucho el cambio gráfico o ya no y se vería igual

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor el sega cd soportaría el street fighter Alpha 2&3 o el street fighter zero y zero 2

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor El sega Génesis unido ensamblado al sega cd usando toda la CPU GPU RAM y RAM externa del cartucho de backups podría portear el juego del neo geo art of fighting 3, kof 94, samuray showdon 2, wold héroes jet O el mortal combat 3 ultimate completo de arcade

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor Si el Génesis hubiera sido de 10 MHz y 4096 colores 1 MB RAM con eso ayudaría enormemente al sega cd o aún no y cuanto estaría bien de capacidades ocuparía el Génesis para explotar todo el sega cd

[@axelguzman8432]

Señor El Castlevania sinfonia de la noche en el sega cd si hubiese salido actualmente podría verse muy similar al de Saturn ya que el que están en proceso del sega Génesis se ve increíble

[@d24ctc]

word RAM

[@RetroSegaDev]

Indeed 🙂

[@sugarhieroglyph]

The music is too loud, my ADD brain can't focus.

[@RetroSegaDev]

Oh no! I've got ADD and it's not too bad 😆 will lower it a bit more in future.

[@sugarhieroglyph]

@@RetroSegaDev Nice! Thanks man.😁

[@Gambit771]

Great video but far too many muricanisms and not enough English.

[@RetroSegaDev]

Errm what?