e8c16a7af6
<!--- Provide a general summary of your changes in the Title above --> ## Description <!--- Describe your changes in detail --> Following #130 and with #135 efforts, I created this new database following the newer folder structure. ## Motivation and Context <!--- What does this sample do? What problem does it solve? --> <!--- If it fixes/closes/resolves an open issue, please link to the issue here --> Adding compatibility for the newest `rolling pre-release`. ## How Has This Been Tested? <!-- (if applicable) --> <!--- Please describe in detail how you tested your sample/changes. --> <!--- Include details of your testing environment, and the tests you ran to --> <!--- see how your change affects other areas of the code, etc. --> ## Screenshots <!-- (if appropriate): --> ## Types of changes <!--- What types of changes does your code introduce? Put an `x` in all the boxes that apply: --> - [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: <!--- Go over all the following points, and put an `x` in all the boxes that apply. --> <!--- If you're unsure about any of these, don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! --> - [x] My code follows the code style of this project. - [ ] My change requires a change to the documentation. - [x] I have updated the documentation accordingly. - [ ] I have added tests to cover my changes. - [ ] All new and existing tests passed. <!--- It would be nice if you could sign off your contribution by replacing the name with your GitHub user name and GitHub email contact. --> Signed-off-by: E1ite007 <ghrv_1999@hotmail.com> <!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> ## Summary by CodeRabbit - **New Features** - Introduced a "GamePak sprites" section with guidelines for using N64 GamePak sprites. - Added a "Compatibility mode" subsection detailing deprecated filename support. - Included a "Sounds" subsection listing sound effects and their licenses. - Provided a link to a boxart pack that adheres to the new structure. - **Documentation** - Enhanced readability with formatting updates and additional examples. <!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai --> --------- Co-authored-by: Robin Jones <networkfusion@users.noreply.github.com>
6.2 KiB
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) 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
Video showcase (as of 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:
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.pngand/orsd:/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:
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 installed.
- Download the latest
sc64menu.n64file from the releases page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
64drive
- Ensure the cart has the latest firmware installed.
- Download the latest
menu.binfile from the releases page, then put it in the root directory of your SD card.
ED64 & ED64P
Currently not supported, but work is in progress (See PR's).
The aim is to replace Altra64 and ED64-UnofficialOS.
Open source software and licenses used
- libdragon (UNLICENSE License)
- libspng (BSD 2-Clause License)
- mini.c (BSD 2-Clause License)
- minimp3 (CC0 1.0 Universal)
- miniz (MIT License)
Sounds
See License for the following sounds:
- Cursor sound by Skyscraper_seven (Free to use)
- Actions (Enter, back) sound by Liecio (Free to use)
- Error sound by Universfield (Free to use)