RavenWorks ([info]ravenworks) wrote in [info]doukutsu,
@ 2006-03-29 11:47:00
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Current mood:excited and honored!

Cave Story GBA - Official homebrew port
I'm sure most of you have already heard, but I've been working on porting Cave Story to the Gameboy Advance in my free time (as a free, homebrew port). Well, Pixel was impressed by my efforts, and I've just been granted access to the game's original source to help with my port. :) It's a great honor to be given the creator's blessing like this, and I'm happy to finally be able to announce my project publicly, now that it's an "official" port.

There's still a lot of work to do, and alas I'm a student so my free time is not what it could be ;) However I promise you I'll be working at it as fast as I can, the idea of a GBA Cave Story is as exciting to me as I'm sure it is to most of you, hence I decided to start it in the first place!  Things are still very early-on in the port, but for those of you curious what Cave Story on the GBA might play like, a small demo of what I showed Pixel is available here. (This ROM is mostly a proof-of-concept, you understand, and not based on Pixel's source, which I just received; but it should whet some appetites! ;) )

Pixel has requested that I keep his source private, but if I need any help with particular aspects of the GBA hardware I have yet to try, this will be the first place I look :)

I look forward to keeping everyone updated on my progress! :)


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[info]exposed_innards
2006-03-29 05:34 pm UTC (link)
You sir, win my internet <3

(Reply to this)


[info]grisser
2006-03-29 05:38 pm UTC (link)
I CONCURED!

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[info]pleasebanchase
2006-03-29 07:19 pm UTC (link)
Marry me.

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[info]nonagon
2006-03-29 08:06 pm UTC (link)
Awesome, Raven. Congratulation!

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[info]acoustictype
2006-03-29 09:21 pm UTC (link)
well done sir, well done! i anxiously await the full conversion. I am amazed at what you were able to do without the source!


does anybody know what the options are for playing homebrew games on an actual GBA (not an emulator) are?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Homebrew and emulators on DS/GBA
(Anonymous)
2006-07-03 09:54 pm UTC (link)
acoustictype, below is a link to a good tutorial on the basic hardware you need to run homebrew or emulators on a DS. Doing it on a GBA is almost exactly the same, except you don't need a passthrough device (like a Passcard 3, read the tutorial and you'll know what I mean). All you need for GBA homebrew is a flash cart. One of the better ones is an M3 (Uses flash memory cards to store data), also made by the same company is a G6 (uses built in memory which is faster but the biggest size it comes in is 512MB). Supercard is another type that's gaining popularity since it's cheaper, but it's getting easier to end up getting a fake one and they aren't that great quality in the first place. I have plans to get a G6 Lite and Passcard 3 for my DS Lite.

Look through the rest of the Nintendo homebrew section on this forum, it is quite informative if you look in the right places.

DCEmu's DS homebrew guide (http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27418)
DCEmu's Nintendo Console Forum (http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=92)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tursi
2006-03-29 09:41 pm UTC (link)
Oooh, lucky! I wanted to do that, but I didn't know how to start! :)

If you need any help, I know the GBA a bit. :) I've only released a sound engine, but it's a start -> http://harmlesslion.com/software/sand

Acoustictype - you need to get a flash cartridge. Not certain what the best source is these days, though, I've had mine for years.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ravenworks
2006-03-29 09:56 pm UTC (link)
Awesome :) Yeah, I'll probably wind up running head-first into a few of the GBA's "gotchas" before long, so don't be surprised if I come begging for advice ;) Thanks!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]rosceau
2006-03-29 10:01 pm UTC (link)
Excellent news, and good luck!

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[info]skyewelse
2006-03-29 10:06 pm UTC (link)
Congratulations! I am happy to hear that you are able to continue with the project and I look forward to playing it on the GBA one day. ^_^

-SkyeWelse

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]skyewelse
2006-03-30 01:41 am UTC (link)
I played the port just awhile ago on my DS GBA emulator. Very impressive job I must say.

-SkyeWelse

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]ravenworks, 2006-03-30 01:42 am UTC

[info]8bitpixelrobot
2006-03-29 10:20 pm UTC (link)
I also have a few industry buddies that can offer you support if you have any tech/gfx/sound problems..

we got your back kid... now go port!!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ravenworks
2006-03-29 10:24 pm UTC (link)
Excellent :D Thanks a million man :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]computolio
2006-03-30 07:43 am UTC (link)

Man, I REALLY need to buy a flash cart now.

How are you planning to tackle the sound?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ravenworks
2006-03-30 02:44 pm UTC (link)
Y'know, that's the first thing I started on? ;)

Most GBA games with decent audio actually do all their sound mixing in software, then just output it right to the speakers (without using the GBC audio hardware, which is the only other alternative). I'm going to try that, even though Organya files can have as many as 16 channels, which is a lot more mixing to do than I was expecting :/ We'll see how it goes.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
come on man do it :(
(Anonymous)
2006-07-01 04:12 pm UTC (link)
hurry up

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: come on man do it :(
[info]acoustictype
2006-07-03 07:24 pm UTC (link)
patience, anonymous. these things take time.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: come on man do it :( - [info]ravenworks, 2006-07-03 07:27 pm UTC

(Anonymous)
2006-07-03 08:14 pm UTC (link)
Best of luck man! It would be GREAT to see this amazing game played on the GBA in all its glory. ;) Your demo has got me really exited. It looks great on my DS lite!

This port will make many people happy. :)

(Reply to this)


[info]captain_duck
2006-07-03 10:43 pm UTC (link)
Wow just found this after reading about it on 4cr, and tried the poc demo, and it was great. Already the graphics and the jumping & weapon system seem to be in place, fantastic work for doing that without the source, the jumping height & falling physics alreay look very true to cave story.

Anyway, i have great hopes for this project, cant wait to see it finished :)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ravenworks
2006-07-04 12:23 am UTC (link)
Thank you very much, I'm pretty proud of the demo :) I'm looking forward to having more to show off!

Woo, I'm on 4cr! XD

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]prguitarman
2006-07-04 06:51 pm UTC (link)
That's awesome!

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[info]squirrel_tm
2006-07-04 07:42 pm UTC (link)
I approve of this.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]bulby01
2006-08-25 06:57 pm UTC (link)
I approve of your avatar.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
do you need money?
(Anonymous)
2006-07-07 03:05 am UTC (link)
If you need help financially, you could throw up a paypal donation link. I know I'd be willing to give you a few bucks.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: do you need money?
[info]ravenworks
2006-07-07 03:27 am UTC (link)
Thank you :) Money's not the issue as much as time, though. Besides, Pixel didn't make any money off the game, it wouldn't be fair for me to. Maybe we should try throwing some his way? ;)

(Reply to this) (Parent)
What about the resolution?
(Anonymous)
2006-07-08 02:58 am UTC (link)
based on what i read about the GBA's resolution, how does the game's resolution compare? should we expect less peripheral view?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: What about the resolution?
[info]ravenworks
2006-07-08 03:48 am UTC (link)
Cave Story: 320 x 240
GBA: 240 x 160

When you think about any particular screenshot though, there's usually a lot of 'empty' space. Boss battles might suffer a bit, but what can you do :/

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Can I use MAX Media Player?
(Anonymous)
2006-07-08 05:11 am UTC (link)
Can I use codejunkies Max Media Player for this game, or homebrew or whatever? I would post this somewhere else, but seeing you were talking about it, and I'm new to this thing. If I bought that, could I load a .gba on it and still use it? Or....is it more complex?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Can I use MAX Media Player?
[info]ravenworks
2006-07-08 12:37 pm UTC (link)
I've been wondering that myself! I know very little about the MAX Media Player, personally. I *can* tell you that the final game will be a .gba file, if that's what you were asking, but I don't know if the MMP runs .gbas, or if it has a way to store save files...

http://forum.gbadev.org/viewforum.php?f=3
This might be a good place to search for threads on the subject though. Good luck!

(Reply to this) (Parent)
I love you
(Anonymous)
2006-07-10 03:05 pm UTC (link)
I love you with mouth.
Any ideas of an ETA?
And will multiple save games be an option?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: I love you
[info]ravenworks
2006-07-10 03:47 pm UTC (link)
Absolutely planning on multiple save games. (Depends on how much SRAM most cartridges have, actually; I still haven't looked into that!) But since it'll only run on flash carts anyway, you can just manage save files yourself if it comes to that ;)

The ETA is absolutely-no-clue. ;) I've got a job now, so that's not good news ;P Plus, I'm never sure what's going to take longer than I thought; the audio system was "programmed" in a weekend, but it wound up taking almost a month to hammer down into a useable speed...

And yay, mouth :D

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]rodylg
2006-07-12 12:19 am UTC (link)
You do this as well as your demo, and will have your name engraved in the videogames history O_O

Ganbatte!!!

(Reply to this)

thank you.
(Anonymous)
2006-07-13 10:29 pm UTC (link)
wow. great work. rock on

(Reply to this)

Don't Screw up, PLEASE!
(Anonymous)
2006-07-14 10:38 pm UTC (link)
I hope it doesn't screw up. Cave Story fro GBA would be awesome. Good luck making it!

(Reply to this)


(Anonymous)
2006-07-27 08:36 pm UTC (link)
Good Luck,
Fingers Crossed.


Best,
Blindfold

(Reply to this)

Cool!
(Anonymous)
2006-08-24 09:52 am UTC (link)
Nice work on the port, looks like that took a fair bit of time.

But is this legally sound? not the homebrew part, I realise thats legal, but the fact a company called Variant Interactive is also working with Pixel to make cave story for the PSP and sell it commercially.. is there something in place to stop Variant turning round and suing you for distributing what they are selling, for free?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Cool!
[info]ravenworks
2006-08-24 01:57 pm UTC (link)
I asked Variant; they said they don't mind. Good question though :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Cool! - [info]bulby01, 2006-08-25 06:59 pm UTC
Re: Cool! - (Anonymous), 2006-09-14 03:29 pm UTC

[info]i_gouge
2006-09-25 07:14 pm UTC (link)
I just heard about this project and I'm hyped. Best of luck to you.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

(Anonymous)
2006-09-27 09:27 am UTC (link)
Hello Ravenswork!
How about telling us about the progress?

I keep my congrats for the final release of the game, not before :p

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
(no subject) - [info]ravenworks, 2006-09-27 01:30 pm UTC

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