N64FlashcartMenu/README.md
Robin Jones a7669b1057
Add Fairchild Channel F emulator support (#166)
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## Description
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Adds the required changes for supporting the Fairchild Channel F
emulator.

## Motivation and Context
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issue here -->
Support more emulators.

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Still required.

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## Types of changes
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- [x] Improvement (non-breaking change that adds a new feature)
- [ ] Bug fix (fixes an issue)
- [ ] Breaking change (breaking change)
- [ ] Documentation Improvement
- [ ] Config and build (change in the configuration and build system,
has no impact on code or features)

## Checklist:
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- [x] My code follows the code style of this project.
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- [ ] I have added tests to cover my changes.
- [ ] All new and existing tests passed.

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Signed-off-by: GITHUB_USER <GITHUB_USER_EMAIL>
2024-12-04 12:30:38 +00:00

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![Build](https://github.com/polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/actions/workflows/build.yml/badge.svg)
# N64 Flashcart Menu
An open source menu for N64 flashcarts.
## Supported Flashcarts
### Fully supported
* SummerCart64
* 64Drive
### Work in Progress
* ED64
* ED64P
## Current (notable) menu features
* Fully Open Source.
* Loads all known N64 games (including iQue and Aleck64 ROMs (even if they are byteswapped)).
* Fully emulates the 64DD and loads 64DD disks (SummerCart64 only).
* Emulator support (NES, SNES, GB, GBC, SMS, GG, CHF) ROMs.
* N64 ROM box image support.
* Background image (PNG) support.
* Comprehensive ROM save database (including HomeBrew headers).
* Comprehensive ROM information display.
* Real Time Clock support.
* Music playback (MP3).
* Menu sound effects.
* N64 ROM autoload.
## Documentation
* [Getting started guide](./docs/00_getting_started_sd.md)
* [Menu controls](./docs/01_menu_controls.md)
* [Menu customizations](./docs/07_menu_customizations.md)
* [Developer guide](./docs/99_developer_guide.md)
## Video showcase (as of Oct 12 2023)
[![N64FlashcartMenu Showcase](http://img.youtube.com/vi/6CKImHTifDA/0.jpg)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CKImHTifDA "N64FlashcartMenu Showcase (Oct 12 2023)")
## Aims
* Support as many N64 FlashCarts as possible.
* Be open source, using permissive licensed third party licensed libraries.
* Be testable, using unit and smoke tests in ares emulated environment.
* Encourage active development from community members and N64 FlashCart owners.
* Support as many common mods and features as possible.
## Experimental features
These features are subject to change:
### N64 ROM autoload
To use the autoload function, while on the `N64 ROM information` display, press the `R` button on your joypad and select the `Set ROM to autoload` option. When you restart the console, it will now only load the selected ROM rather than the menu.
NOTE: to return to the menu, hold joypad `start` button whilst powering on the console.
### GamePak sprites
To use N64 `GamePak` sprites, place `PNG` files within the `sd:/menu/boxart/` folder.
#### Supported sprites
These must be `PNG` files that use the following dimensions:
* Standard N64 GamePak boxart sprites: 158x112
* Japanese N64 GamePak boxart sprites: 112x158
* 64DD boxart sprites: 129x112
They will be loaded by directories using each character (case-sensitive) of the full 4 character Game Code (as identified in the menu ROM information).
i.e. for GoldenEye NTSC USA (NGEE), this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/E/boxart_front.png`.
i.e. for GoldenEye PAL (NGEP), this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/P/boxart_front.png`.
To improve compatibility between regions (as a fallback), you may exclude the region ID (last matched directory) for GamePaks to match with 3 letter IDs instead:
i.e. for GoldenEye, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/N/G/E/boxart_front.png`.
**Note1:** Excluding the region ID may show the wrong boxart.
**Note2:** For future support, boxart sprites should also include: `boxart_back.png`, `boxart_top.png`, `boxart_bottom.png`, `boxart_left.png`, `boxart_right.png`.
As a starting point, here is a link to a boxart pack following the new structure, including `boxart_front.png` and failback images:
* [Link](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IpCmFqmGgGwKKmlRBxYObfFR9XywaC6n/view?usp=drive_link)
#### Compatibilty mode
If you cannot yet satisfy the correct boxart layout, The menu still has **deprecated** support for filenames containing the Game ID.
**Note:** This will add a noticeable delay for displaying parts of the menu.
Each file must be named according to the 2,3 or 4 letter GamePak ID (matched in this order).
i.e.
* for GoldenEye 4 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/NGEE.png` and/or `sd:/menu/boxart/NGEP.png`.
* for GoldenEye 3 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/NGE.png`.
* for GoldenEye 2 letters, this would be `sd:/menu/boxart/GE.png`.
As a starting point, here are some links to boxart packs:
* [Japan Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/KyJR0B6B#ERabLautAVPaqJTIdBSv4ghbudNhK7hnEr2ZS1Q6ub0)
* [American Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/rugAFYSQ#JHfgCU2amzNVpC4S6enP3vg--wtAAwsziKa7cej6QCc)
* [European Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/OmIV3aAK#kOWdutK1_41ffN64R6thbU7HEPR_M9qO0YM2mNG6RbQ)
* [64DD Boxart](https://mega.nz/file/ay5wQIxJ#k3PF-VMLrZJxJTr-BOaOKa2TBIK7c2t4zwbdshsQl40)
### Menu Settings
The Menu creates a `config.ini` file in `sd:/menu/` which contains various settings that are used by the menu.
If required, you can manually adjust the file on the SD card using your computer.
## Flashcart specific
### SC64
* Ensure the cart has the latest [firmware](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/SummerCart64/releases/latest) installed.
* Download the latest `sc64menu.n64` file from the [releases](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
### 64drive
* Ensure the cart has the latest [firmware](https://64drive.retroactive.be/support.php) installed.
* Download the latest `menu.bin` file from the [releases](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
### ED64 - WIP - UNTESTED AND UNSUPPORTED - USE AT OWN RISK
Currently not supported, but work is in progress (See [PR's](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/pulls)).
NOTE: The menu may be able to load ROM's but not perform saves and may break existing ones..
#### ED64 (Vseries)
The aim is to reach feature parity with [ED64-UnofficialOS](https://github.com/n64-tools/ED64-UnofficialOS-binaries) / [ED64-OfficialOS](https://krikzz.com/pub/support/everdrive-64/v2x-v3x/os-bin/).
Download the `OS64.v64` ROM from the latest [action run - assets] and place it in the `/ED64` folder.
#### ED64 (X series)
X Series support is currently awaiting fixes, in the meantime use the official [OS](https://krikzz.com/pub/support/everdrive-64/x-series/OS/) instead.
#### ED64 (P clone)
Download the `OS64P.v64` ROM from the latest [action run - assets] and place it in the `/ED64P` folder.
The aim is to reach feature parity with [Altra64](https://github.com/networkfusion/altra64)
# Open source software and licenses used
* [libdragon](https://github.com/DragonMinded/libdragon) (UNLICENSE License)
* [libspng](https://github.com/randy408/libspng) (BSD 2-Clause License)
* [mini.c](https://github.com/univrsal/mini.c) (BSD 2-Clause License)
* [minimp3](https://github.com/lieff/minimp3) (CC0 1.0 Universal)
* [miniz](https://github.com/richgel999/miniz) (MIT License)
## Sounds
See [License](https://pixabay.com/en/service/license-summary/) for the following sounds:
* [Cursor sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/click-buttons-ui-menu-sounds-effects-button-7-203601/) by Skyscraper_seven (Free to use)
* [Actions (Enter, back) sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/menu-button-user-interface-pack-190041/) by Liecio (Free to use)
* [Error sound](https://pixabay.com/en/sound-effects/error-call-to-attention-129258/) by Universfield (Free to use)