EnderCal1012 2022-11-22 22:48
So 2 years ago, around the same time I started lowres NX, I conceptualized my own virtual console. I couldn't make it back then due to no PC, but now that I have one I wanted to try and make it a reality-ish. How do I make one?
was8bit 2022-11-23 04:04
Someone here has done it... look thru some of the posts below... not sure off hand which ones...
Timo 2022-11-23 06:54
You mean program one, not build a physical, right?
EnderCal1012 2022-11-23 20:32
Yes. I think building a physical one is much out of my league.
Timo 2022-11-24 17:13 (Edited)
Most of the existing fantasy console are written in C or C++ and use the SDL2 library for platform independent graphics, audio and input.
Then a big point is of course the programming language inside of your fantasy console. Many use Lua, because it's simple and I think it's easy to integrate the Lua interpreter into own projects.
LowRes NX has a custom built BASIC interpreter. I don't recommend this, it's really a lot of work!
Then you implement your virtual screen and audio and add custom commands to the programming language (e.g. Lua) to access them.
Usually fantasy consoles have built in tools for the editor, graphics, music. They are usually also written in C/C++ and built into the application. LowRes NX is a bit more special and has the tools actually written like normal NX programs.
If you want other people to use it, then of course you need documentation and maybe even tutorials...
You can easily fall into a rabbit hole making a fantasy console. It may start simple, but in the end it's so much work! In any case it's a good idea to integrate an existing interpreter (not like LowRes NX).
Timo 2022-11-24 17:14
Ah, feel free to check the source code of LowRes NX: https://github.com/timoinutilis/lowres-nx