18 years ago I used to mess around a bit with BASIC on my Ti-85. More recently I did a bit of html. I had a little experience with visual basic. Long time ago also.

Outside of coding
I also used to modify Mac games by using HexEdit and other tools to do things like create plugins for Ambrosia Software’s Escape Velocity. I also used to create aircraft for a flight simulator called x plane, and sometimes I could make some interesting things happen by modifying Sprite and audio assets.

I’m thinking that some things in the SNES version that make sense for a console like the virtual boy. The menus, and the intro screen for example.

The SNES version also shows that it’s possible to make the game work without using as many 3D models.

Anyway, I’m interested in porting something and learning how to go about it. Maybe Atari’s Tempest is a better place to start. Why nobody has put that on the VB yet I don’t know. If you ask me, that should have been a launch title.

Specifically I’d like to port Spectre VR if possible, or perhaps Spectre Supreme. I have a CD ROM of the Mac version of Spectre VR, but accessing the sound data and 3d models has a number of road blocks. I got sheep shaver running on osx Sierra but I can’t increase the ram enough to run Spectre VR or even run the system with all extensions enabled. I may have to set up my old iMac to do anything with this part.

I’m interested in the Mac version specifically because it appears to have superior sound and graphics. Even if the virtual boy is incapable of doing all of it, I’d rather use the best version as my reference.

Although of course if it would be easier to port the SNES version I’m game for that too. I have a physical copy of that game as well and can easily get a rom.

Teach me master Yoda. I wish to “Learn to code”. I have a Mac pro though. I don’t know if that will be an issue. I can put windows on it if necessary.

[SpectreVR]

It took about 6 hours but I got the one display rewired. The other ribbon cable broke in the process and no longer works. I had to desolder the ribbon cable connector to solder these wires.

Now the results.

I still have lines. I don’t think this one likes me.

I’m debating whether I should spend another 6 hours wiring up the other one in the hope that somehow it will magically make the lines disappear.

Another thought might be capacitor replacement, as I accidentally touched the side of an electrolytic capacitor while soldering.

I’m not really sure where to go from here.

• This reply was modified 5 years, 3 months ago by SpectreVR.

VN104164554

VN102090466

Purchased on eBay from a seller in Lincoln Park New Jersey. Both consoles listed as for parts not working. VN102 supposedly didn’t power on. I successfully soldered the cable on VN102 and now it works perfectly. VN104 however is proving to be a sisyphusian restoration job.

I live in Illinois USA

I had thought of that. I’m not sure what is meant by “pitch” and a lot of the ribbon cables from inside old computers that initially popped into my head would be too large to be of much help. By using the blue 30 AWG wire I have on hand, I think I can make it work without waiting for shipping. If there were replacement cables that would be ideal. The solution I have in mind would make soldered connections to the connectors pins and should be entirely reversible should a replacement cable ever reach production. I think I can even tie the wires into a ribbon config using some thread. It would be tedious, but the result might be worth it. I’ll just keep telling myself that at least I’m not attempting to make sure replica of the ROM modules used in the Apollo guidance computer. Lol. I may eventually opt for zn actual ribbon, but I’m not even 100% sure there isn’t some other issue with the display.

Could you explain pitch to me?

Yeah that would be awesome. My favorite game back in the 90’s was Spectre. It was clearly inspired by battle tanks but it was for the Macintosh computer, and DOS, and I suppose windows. There was Spectre, Spectre Supreme and Spectre VR. Unfortunately, Spectre VR wasn’t in VR, it just had a lot of QuickTime video placed on objects on the battle field. Spectre was also ported to the SNES, but I think it would be infinitely better on virtual boy especially with multiplayer.

Creating 3d models is about as far as I can get, but a better way would be if someone could reverse engineer it from the DOS or Mac version and port it to VB.

I know it won’t be easy. I’m not afraid to try. I’ve still got some very thin wire left over from when I did a GC video HDMI mod on my GameCube using a Pluto IIx development board. I have a steady hand, and my trusty Hakko 888d with several tips so I’ll let you know how it went when I’m done. I’ll have to attempt it while the kids are in bed. Nothing is worse than trying to do detailed work while the three of them are fighting over a toy.