>Wouldn't it be neat if we could get these legal games and demos onto =
>something that those of us who like using the real hardware could use to =
>try these things out. Perhaps putting the space fantasy zone and the =
>other demos on a CD to use in the duo and not some emu? Even a smallish =
>run of hus would be cool and definitely worth my $.
>
>Has anyone done this or is attempting to do this? =20
Hmmm...
Space Fantasy Zone was a Super CDROM, not a HuCard.
All of the HuC demos can now be compiled into Super CDROM form, not just
run as a ROM image in an emulator. I have worked with Zeograd and David
Michel to make this a reality - and the quality of games and demos is
constantly improving. In fact, you can now create 'overlays' for CDROMs -
this is how you can tie several different programs together to make one
cohesive CDROM image (like the Ultrabox magazines).
I try to encourage the HuC developers to put source code on www.zeograd.com
for exactly this reason - so people can make a CDROM image if they want, or
alter it to suit their own tastes, and learn more about programming for the
PCE.
For HuCards:
Jerry DaSilva has the most experience with making HuCard-like PC Boards...
he made some development boards last year.
Cost breakdown for making HuCard:
1) $10 for HuCard board when done in batch of 100 pieces - probably closer
to $5 when done in batch of 500-1000 pieces
2) $2-$6 for a 4Mb Flash memory (if you can find them... they're starting
to get scarce)
3) EPROM programmer
4) soldering to the board
5) development of whatever you want to put on it
6) shipping
So, we're probably talking about $20 as an absolute minimum. From the way
I hear people talk about the system these days, it would have to be a
really good game to warrant these prices for anything more than about a
dozen people. And with the smallish group of collectors as the only
public, the price would have to be $30 or higher.
On the other hand, a CDROM is less of a restrictive medium, can easily be
developed for, and can easily be mass-produced at low prices - even with
high-quality artwork. A run of 500 pieces would probably be able to have a
retail price of $15 - but again, development of "CD worthy" material is not
so easy, and thus not instantaneous.
- Dave