Suggestions for the list

[jan-kleks]

Thank you for creating this list, great idea!

Check out these two extensive retrocoding GitHub lists (probably the best of their kind) as an example of how the Mega Drive list could possibly be developed further when it comes to the content and look:

• Awesome Game Boy Development: https://gbdev.io/list.html
• Awesome N64 Development: https://n64.dev/

Some suggestions for the list:

• Two links for the beginners: Mega Drive Architecture A Practical Analysis (https://www.copetti.org/writings/consoles/mega-drive-genesis/) and A Guide to the Graphics of the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis (https://rasterscroll.com/mdgraphics/)

• Coding Secrets: https://www.youtube.com/c/CodingSecrets/

• matteusbeus retro game dev channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/matteusbeusRetroDev/

• SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis hardware notes written by Kabuto of TiTAN during the development of Overdrive 2: https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1ST9GbFfPnIjLT5loytFCm3pB0kWQ1Oe34DCBBV8saY8/

• Pushing Polygons on the Mega Drive [Overdrive 2 demo polygon renderer write-up]: https://jix.one/pushing-polygons-on-the-mega-drive/

• Red Eyes demo technical details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17pX_PS5uXSWoaS71JurC-DSKIV8ZAzlaP4o1jXbJ9CA/edit

• Blast Processing demo by Gabriel Morales: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvvL6S5Buiw

• 32X DevKit: https://github.com/viciious/32XDK

• DOOM 32x: Resurrection project: https://www.doomworld.com/forum/topic/119202-32x-resurrection/

• ProjectCD -- Mega CD Boot Loader: https://github.com/LukeUsher/ProjectCD

• 240p Test Suite for Sega Genesis/Sega CD: https://github.com/ArtemioUrbina/240pTestSuite/tree/master/240psuite/Genesis/240p

• Mike Pavone's Projects, BlastEm, Sega CD research: https://www.retrodev.com/

• Sega CD Frog Feast homebrew source code: http://frogfeast.rastersoft.net/SegaCDSrc.html

• Look carefully through the stuff gathered here by moon-watcher — homebrew (especially check out ports of the indie games l’Abbaye des Morts and Bug Hunt, as well as Griel’s Quest, Chase, Zooming Secretary, MegaAtoms), demoscene examples, and some other things: https://github.com/moon-watcher They update this collection from time to time.

• TetrisMD homebrew: https://github.com/NeroJin/TetrisMD

• Tro-Now homebrew: https://github.com/bitbitjam/bbj2/tree/master/%5BMD%5D%20Tro-Now

• Retail Clerk '89 homebrew: https://www.huguesjohnson.com/rc89/ And the dev's programming tutorial: https://huguesjohnson.com/programming/genesis/palettes/

• Mode 7 demo by gasega68k technical discussion: http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1959

• Wolfenstein 3D by gasega68k technical discussion: https://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1537

• Star Fox demos by gasega68k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUZpF2JLF4s) and Stef (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuYFmIEtLLk) could also be mentioned

• Resistance Sega Mega Drive demos: http://www.resistance.no/?location=platforms&category=9

• Paprium is controversial, but because of its interesting technical side (the use of an enhancement chip, for example), I think the project could be mentioned: https://www.retrorgb.com/paprium-reviews-are-in.html

• Source Code Archive : The Chris Shrigley Page [including Sega Genesis, Sega CD games]: http://shrigley.com/source_code_archive/

• Sega Mega Drive (Genesis) Development Kit Hardware: https://www.retroreversing.com/sega-mega-drive-genesis-development-kit/

• Hello, Sega Genesis: https://log.martinatkins.me/2020/01/20/hello-sega-genesis/

• Sonic Retro on GitHub: Collection of tools and disassemblies by the members of Sonic Retro: https://github.com/sonicretro

• Demonstration of hijacking the Sonic & Knuckles lock-on cart to run user code: https://github.com/BigEvilCorporation/s3k_hijack

• lory90 disassembly projects: https://github.com/lory90

• Vladimir Kononovich creates Sega Genesis software reverse-engineering videos (in Russian, one can use automatic CC translation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNJtvdeVllA&list=PL9T2Lv4uZytQxcYFUG9bZ0IBSFiljVV70 On Github they have also some tools for Sega Genesis reverse-engineering: https://github.com/lab313ru

• Sega Genesis (https://www.romhacking.net/?page=documents&category=&platform=11), Sega CD (https://www.romhacking.net/?page=documents&category=&platform=29), Sega 32X (https://www.romhacking.net/?page=documents&category=&platform=31) Documents section at ROMhacking.net

• MegaWiFi: https://github.com/doragasu/mw

• Battle City port with network support: https://github.com/krikzz/BattleCity-online

• A proof-of-concept project using Rust to write Mega Drive ROMs: https://github.com/ricky26/rust-mega-drive

• How to make Sega Genesis music (in 1994): video about GEMS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvnZRCW_qc

• Creating Music and Sound for the Sega Genesis/Mega-Drive: A Primer for Using the VGM Music Maker: https://megacatstudios.com/blogs/retro-development/creating-music-and-sound-for-the-sega-genesis-mega-drive-a-primer-for-using-the-vgm-music-maker

• DefleMask Instrument Tutorial - Sega Genesis / Megadrive FM Sound video [currently part 1 only]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8edjurjDw

• PaletteBatch: https://allone-works.itch.io/palette-batch

• Sega VR Revived: https://gamehistory.org/segavr/

• Widescreen Genesis Emulator (could be an interesting feature, if someone would like to put their homebrew game on Steam, for instance): https://www.retrorgb.com/retroarch-now-has-a-widescreen-genesis-emulator.html

• Communities: SpritesMind.Net, Discords: SGDK (https://discord.com/invite/hpHesQG), Plutiedev (https://discord.com/invite/k79rzTz), Mega Drive Developers Collective (https://discord.com/invite/QdudKChTxn), SegaXtreme (https://discord.com/invite/C5TbdCH), BlastEm emulator (https://discord.com/invite/mQW4MKD), DefleMask (https://discord.com/invite/bqSNKHE), The Fourth Modulator (https://discord.com/invite/PSwpJ85)

• Popular emulators (http://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php/Sega_Genesis_emulators), hardware reimplementations MiSTer FPGA (https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Main_MiSTer/wiki), Mega Sg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZCQ6kN9Ie0)

• Flashcarts could also be mentioned. Including the functionality of some to use enhanced CD audio (Mega Evedrive PRO: https://github.com/krikzz/msu-md, MegaSD: https://downloads.terraonion.com/public/MegaSD_DEV_Manual.pdf), SVP chip support, Mega Evedrive PRO can also run accelerated Doom, utilize MegaColor enhanced video playback (https://twitter.com/GamesUniq), emulate NES.

• One could also try to list Mega Drive homebrew publishers, and what choice does one have when it comes to new homebrew cartridge boards to put their games on

• SMS Power! community could be mentioned as well, if someone would like to use Mega Drive's Master System capabilities and make a game for that system: https://www.smspower.org/

Regards

[And-0]

Wow, that is an amazing list! I'll go through it later this week, just wanted to say thank you!

[jan-kleks]

@And-0 You are welcome. I have updated the list -- in the future you could try to archive some of the links on the Internet Archive and/or http://archive.is/, so that they would not suddenly stop working.

[diegzumillo]

Can I borrow this to suggest my own WIP engine? I have other related stuff in my github but I'm not sure they fit the adjective "awesome"

[And-0]

Alright, I've added a first batch of @jan-kleks suggestions, just to get things rolling!

Since there is a lot more stuff out there than I knew about, I think it makes sense to modify the structure of this list a bit. However, it's a bit tricky to decide on how. One big question that I'd like to get your feedback on is: Should we put Mega CD and 32X stuff in its own category?

On the one hand it makes sense, as they're different hardware with a specific target audience; Most people would start with MD programming and then move on later down the line, I think. However, that could lead to duplicates, like Chris Shrigley's page, which contains source code for both MD and Mega CD games. Thoughts?

@diegzumillo Absolutely, feel free to post it here or create a pull request! If it's for the Mega Drive, it's awesome by default :P

[diegzumillo]

https://github.com/diegzumillo/StealthMetroidMD
This is a work in progress game for the Mega Drive written with SGDK. I am making it open souce for now, in the hopes it serves as learning material or starting point for someone. Maybe it needs a name.

[And-0]

I've added it to the list, @diegzumillo!

I've also created a new branch new_structure where I've changed the general structure of the list and added some more of Jan's suggestions. Feel free to offer suggestions or whatever; I created the branch so I/we could play around without messing up the list.

[diegzumillo]

Thanks! Maybe open source game is a better description than engine but works as both, in my opinion.

[jan-kleks]

@And-0 Experimenting with the structure of the list till you find the best one is a nice idea.

Regarding the "Moon Watcher Games" entry, as I wrote, there is more stuff there than just games, so something like a "collection/repository" might actually be a better name, and one might want to look for something that does not suggest everything is made by Moon Watcher (which is not the case). BTW, you could also ping Moon Watcher on Twitter (https://twitter.com/moonwatchermd) and ask if we are missing anything useful for the list, they post lots of Sega-related stuff.

Some more links:

• Fatal Smarties homebrew (source code at the bottom): https://globalgamejam.org/2016/games/fatal-smarties

• 2048 homebrew (source code included): https://web.archive.org/web/20210527154159/https://ftp.untergrund.net/users/irokos/titan/titan-MD2048.zip

• Article about porting Fantasy Zone arcade to Mega Drive (in Japanese): https://ameblo.jp/arcade-cabinet/entry-12659552849.html This dev has also ported Darius to Mega Drive: https://web.archive.org/web/20180606085359/https://ameblo.jp/arcade-cabinet/entry-12381068306.html

• M2 when working on Sega Classics 3D created a specification for enhanced Mega Drive with 3D support called GigaDrive (it could theoretically be reimplemented in an emulator/FPGA), it is an interesting read: https://web.archive.org/web/20170806200341/http://blogs.sega.com/2013/12/03/sega-3d-classics-%E2%80%93-3d-sonic-the-hedgehog-interview-with-developer-m2/ And some research info: https://gbatemp.net/threads/research-m2s-3d-gigadrive-emulator.475800/

• NEXTBasic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6HOtUA4Fnk

• BasiEgaXorz: http://devster.monkeeh.com/sega/basiegaxorz/

• Sega Sound documents: https://hiddenpalace.org/News/Sega_of_Japan_Sound_Documents_and_Source_Code

• Shining Force Central on GitHub: https://github.com/ShiningForceCentral

• Making of series by strafefox (including Mega Drive games): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LPu7gNzWUE&list=PLoxs7x1Yn9F9G1Xz4pmti4b1NZLNI8SGn

• Genny VST: https://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1062

• Retro Graphics Toolkit: https://segaretro.org/Retro_Graphics_Toolkit

• Video about rigs created for chipsynth MD's emulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLxTHYGLKY0

• Digging for treasure in Aladdin’s source code: https://gamehistory.org/aladdin-source-code/

• Pingouin Blue homebrew (source code included): https://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1952 And the sources for other experiments from this dev: https://notaz.gp2x.de/md/mirror/people/djcouchycouch/

• TUME (The Universal Map Editor): https://segaretro.org/TUME

• Aseprite Mega Drive Digitizer: http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3112

• mcd-verificator: https://github.com/krikzz/MEGA-PRO/tree/master/mcd-verificator

• An authoritative reference on the YM2612: http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=386

• Dithering on the Sega Genesis with Composite Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0weL5XDpPs

• Sega Genesis Low Resolution Aspect Ratio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY8HAjJfSO0

• Downforce homebrew (source code available): https://gamejolt.com/games/downforce/162163

• Projects by TmEE co.(TM): Pong game that doesn't use RAM at all : http://www.tmeeco.eu/BitShit/PONG!RAM.ASM , TMSS ROM reverse engineering: http://www.tmeeco.eu/SMD/TMSSCODE.ASM

• flamewing repo with Mega Drive projects: https://github.com/flamewing?tab=repositories

• Exodus emulator tech docs: http://techdocs.exodusemulator.com/Console/SegaMegaDrive/index.html

• You are missing three games from Plutiedev, Project MD (https://github.com/sikthehedgehog/projectmd) and Dragon's Castle (https://github.com/sikthehedgehog/dragon), Meka Grappler X (https://github.com/sikthehedgehog/meka)

• The sound drivers of Sonic the Hedgehog: https://clownacy.wordpress.com/2021/04/18/the-sound-drivers-of-sonic-the-hedgehog/

• About Sonic Megamix: https://hcstealth.tumblr.com/post/13505293669/sonic-megamix-is-not-sonic-cd

• 32X and Mega Drive projects by GenesisFan64: https://github.com/GenesisFan64?tab=repositories

• 32xrick homebrew (source code included): https://pdroms.de/files/sega32x/xrick-sega-32x

• Wolf32X homebrew (source code included): https://web.archive.org/web/20210310175253/https://download1648.mediafire.com/x8gsragmh8og/5rpabuadg9f6i8d/Wolf32X-20140712.7z

• Uwol - Quest For Money homebrew source code: https://shiru.untergrund.net/files/src/uwol_quest_for_money_source_code.zip

• Sega Genesis development on Mega Cat Studios blog: https://megacatstudios.com/blogs/retro-development/tagged/sega-games

• Proof of concept Doom port for Genesis: https://github.com/krikzz/doom-68k

[jan-kleks]

@And-0 I have added a few more links to my last post here. BTW, the Mode5 website does not load (at least for me), but it seems to work through the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/20201201204051/https://mode5.net/Tutorials.html (again, as I wrote earlier, it might be a good idea to archive some of the links from the list at some point...)

[jan-kleks]

@And-0 I can see that you have been asking people on Twitter, if they want more MD tutorials. IMHO, you could try to port some of your games from https://www.ohsat.com/game/ to Mega Drive and document your development journey (maybe even with video tutorials?). Then you could post the links to new tutorials to this list as well. :)

Have you checked some of the later links I have added here? There's some really cool stuff.

[And-0]

Haven't had a chance to work through all the links yet, sorry. Hopefully I'll get around to adding them soon! It's amazing how much stuff you can dig up.

@And-0 I can see that you have been asking people on Twitter, if they want more MD tutorials. IMHO, you could try to port some of your games from https://www.ohsat.com/game/ to Mega Drive and document your development journey (maybe even with video tutorials?). Then you could post the links to new tutorials to this list as well. :)

Not a bad idea...thanks, I'll add that to my list!

[jan-kleks]

@And-0 Have you seen these thorough lists of commerical/free Mega Drive (and Dreamcast) homebrew games?: http://segabits.com/forums/index.php?topic=3890.0 You could also put a link to that site -- to show how much stuff people are making in general.

[jan-kleks]

Great job with updating the list! Check out as well:

• MEGADEV - Sega Mega CD Development Framework: https://github.com/drojaazu/megadev
• sweetsdigger Sega Genesis game by tboddy (source code available): https://tboddy.itch.io/sweetsdigger

[tndata]

A suggestion for your list is a blog post I just published at:

How I built my own Sega Mega Drive hardware dev kit from scratch
https://nestenius.se/2022/01/18/how-i-built-my-own-sega-mega-drive-hardware-dev-kit-from-scratch/

About 30 years ago I had the crazy idea to develop games for the Sega Mega Drive, but I didn’t have suitable hardware. So, I decided to reverse engineer my Sega Mega Drive and build my own hardware development kit from scratch. Read about how I did it in my latest blog post!