First steps of MD/MCD Dev...

[Jackhead]

Hi,
i think anyone here knows the new homemade Games like Pier Solar.
Im happy to got some MD/MCD devhardware and like to know where i start first. Of corse, first i ask here for more infos :rolleyes: .
I do not know much about 16bit development. Ok programming in assembler. Did Sega release any kind of sdk for MD/MCD? Any documentation availible?
Have someone an good place where i can read more about. I want to see why MD dev is easyer as snes dev, for example. The 16bit timeline is my favorite within the switch to 32bit.
Will be happy when some Sega guys can help me please.
thanks

[Alchy]

This exact question came up at the nesdev forum recently. Here's the response:

http://darkdust.net/writings/megadrive
http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/
http://www.hacking-cult.org/?r/18

[Jackhead]

Thank you, for giving me an startup.
First i want to set up the hardware. I have for MD and MCD an dip switch.
I think its for the region settings, set on NTSC. 8 Pins, 4 and 5 is ON, rest on OFF. Anyone knows the setting for PAL?
here an pic: http://img2.picload.org/image/rrgcdo/mddevfront.jpg many thanks to assembler for the Unit! You see it arrive safety in DE :)
Good i know the german custom guys, they think its an retail MD1 ^^...

[ElBarto]

http://www.megadrive.org

Here is my lib for the sega megadrive.
Some examples are included too.
No tutorial for now.
If you know C language this cool be easy. If not .... :)

And don't use your MD/MCD dev combo, use a standard megadrive and emulators.

[Jackhead]

http://www.megadrive.org
If you know C language this cool be easy. If not .... :)

And don't use your MD/MCD dev combo, use a standard megadrive and emulators.

I do, otherwise i dont ask for.
First love is contact for me with the unit. I do not want go to deap at first time, but is it possible to convert MD games to MDCD format?
The idea behind this is to tests on the unit without emu. But of corse thanks for infos i have to read it.

[ElBarto]

If you want to test on hardware, buy a flashcart.
And no you can't run md games from the mcd (well you can but only <64Kb game).
I don't know the settings for this unit, I have one myself but I don't use it, it's too valuable. Do you have some tools with it ?

[Jackhead]

I have one myself but I don't use it, it's too valuable. Do you have some tools with it ?

Thats the main reason why i post this thread. When not here , where else?
But i looking up to pier solar, awesome work the guys do! Maybe someone of stuff is here?
16bit is awesome :DOH:

[Digital Conservationist]

Genesis/32X/SegaCD Technical Documentation & 32X SDK here in the files section.

[TmEE]

I got myself SNASM68K assembler, some Amiga n00b ASM docs, Charles Macdonald's MD docs and started writing...

before going to MCD, you need to have MD mastered

[ElBarto]

Thank you, for giving me an startup.
First i want to set up the hardware. I have for MD and MCD an dip switch.
I think its for the region settings, set on NTSC. 8 Pins, 4 and 5 is ON, rest on OFF. Anyone knows the setting for PAL?
here an pic: http://img2.picload.org/image/rrgcdo/mddevfront.jpg many thanks to assembler for the Unit! You see it arrive safety in DE :)
Good i know the german custom guys, they think its an retail MD1 ^^...

The left dipswitch 4 and 5 control the md region.
Here is my note about it :

DIP1:

1: Unknown
2: Unknown
3: Unknown
4: Off = ENG, On = JAP
5: Off = 60Hz, On = 50Hz
6: Unknown, but when activate before power, no screen
7: Unknown
8: Unknown, but when activate before power, no screen

[Jackhead]

:thumbsup: thanks, so you think the MCD has different settings on the right?

[ElBarto]

I honestly don't know :)

[segaloco]

I betcha they do control the region, since the MD and MCD's regions have to match. I wonder what they used for a BIOS though, probably something like multibios. That just increases my interest in the BIOS =D

[Jackhead]

Thanks for your help. I will figure it out soon as i got my rgb cable.

[ElBarto]

I betcha they do control the region, since the MD and MCD's regions have to match. I wonder what they used for a BIOS though, probably something like multibios. That just increases my interest in the BIOS =D

No the three bios for each region is present.
99% sure that they are retail revision.

[Jackhead]

Hi,
i have an problem to get the MCD running. On the back you can see two power plugs. Both work fine for MD carts. But the MCD show no action.
OK usually an frontloader unit needs two power adaptors.
When i connect two MD1 supplys, the unit buzz noisy.
The question know. Is the upper one for the SCSI peripheral and do i need only one power supply? When yes, how i can run MCDs? The reset button dont pull out the drive.
Anyone have an solution?

[ElBarto]

You need both to run the unit.
What do you mean no action ?
Does the bios start ?

[Jackhead]

I use two sega MD1 power supplys. On both sides (MD and MCD) i have glowing power LED. But only the MD shows function.
No Bios comes up. No drive eject. Mayby need an fix ? I have no experience with the MCD1:shrug:

[segaloco]

I use two sega MD1 power supplys. On both sides (MD and MCD) i have glowing power LED. But only the MD shows function.
No Bios comes up. No drive eject. Mayby need an fix ? I have no experience with the MCD1:shrug:

If yours is anything like ElBarto's, it might have an issue that bugged me when he took pictures of the innards of his. Go in a dark room, open it up VERY carefully, take the MD mainboard and debugger boards out, and, I'll betcha there isn't a sticker covering the eprom holding the MCD bios. No clue if it would've been erased by now. Thats how ElBarto's is and I'm hoping that isn't the case with yours. :crying:

[Jackhead]

Opening up this pice of hardware is very hard. Most powerplugs are very fragile. And the screws are into plastic spacer :banghead:. But i will try it.
When i did it, i post HiRes shots from the PCBs.