SummerCart64/README.md

SummerCollection

A collection of hardware, firmware and software designs of SummerCart64 - Nintendo 64 FlashCart/DevKit.

Project parts

Firmware

Folder fw contains firmware written in Verilog for Intel MAX10 FPGA.

Hardware

Folder hw contains PCB design made in Autodesk Eagle.

Software

Folder sw contains several helper programs that makes flash cart work all together, including bootloader and CIC emulation.

What works

OLD STATUS, WILL BE UPDATED SOON

Currently hardware implements basic functionality for playing games - ROM emulation, 4/16K EEPROM, bootloader and PC communication. You can send any ROM to the SDRAM from PC and if game doesn't check for save hardware other than EEPROM then it most likely will work. Bootloader does all the work necessary to setup the console registers for specific CIC chip that game requires.

How to build

OLD INSTRUCTIONS, WILL BE UPDATED SOON

Instructions below are mostly written for Windows users and point to Windows specific executables.

1. Download latest zip files from releases tab.
2. Order PCBs in your farovite company, all gerbers, bill of materials and schematics are in SummerCart64_PCB-[version].zip file.
3. Order all necessary components, eg. in Mouser.
4. Solder all components onto the PCB.
5. Connect flashcart to PC.
6. Download FT_PROG from FTDI website.
7. Open FT_PROG and scan for devices.
8. Load ftdi-template.xml from SummerCart64-[version].zip located in hw folder.
9. Program FTDI chip, then right click on the device and select "Cycle port"
10. Download and install Arrow USB Blaster drivers from Trenz Electronic website.
11. Download and install QuartusProgrammer from Intel website.
12. Click on "Hardware Setup..." button and select "Arrow-USB-Blaster [ARxxxxxx]" in "Currently selected hardware", then close window.
13. Click on "Auto Detect" button and select "10M08SC" option.
14. Click on the newly shown row, then click on "Change File..." button and select SummerCart64.pof file from SummerCart64-[version].zip located in fw/output_files folder.
15. Select "Program/Configure" and "Verify" checkboxes.
16. Click on "Start" button and wait for operation to finish.
17. Download and install avrdude.
18. Program ATtiny45 with UltraCIC-III.hex file from SummerCart64-[version].zip located in sw/cic folder, more information is available here.
19. Download latest release of N64-UNFLoader.
20. Insert flashcart in the Nintendo 64.
21. Upload ROM by executing UNFLoader -r your_rom_file.n64
22. Turn on console and enjoy playing homebrew games on real hardware.

Issues

OLD STATUS, WILL BE UPDATED SOON

There are several issues with the project at the moment in order of importance. Keep in mind that core flashcart functionality is fully working:

• No save write-back to SD card without console reset implementation.

What's next

Current goal is to rewrite README.md

Finished sample (obsolete v1 version, to be replaced with v2)