Magic Wild Card - SD card based FDS emulator.

jamesholodnakjamesholodnak
in Everything Else
hello. My name is James and I've recently finished my next project called magic wild card. 



It's a Famicom disk system emulator utilizing micro Sd card for storage. Just load the FDS images onto the card and plug it into the ram adapter and play!  No bothering with disks or anything. It will present you a menu upon boot to select a game. Press a button to flip disks. Easy. 



Please see http://magicwildcard.com for more info. 



Thanks, 

james

Comments

  • dra600ndra600n
    Looks neat! Of course, you still need half of the FDS system to use it. What's the price on this going to be, and what makes this a more valued purchase over the everdrive or powerpak? I believe they both can play FDS games and they don't require the FDS adapter.
  • jamesholodnakjamesholodnak
    The biggest reason for using this device is perfect FDS sound.  Instead of badly emulated FDS sound coming from the everdrive/powerpak, it is the real FDS hardware...so it has the real FDS sound.  Play a few FDS games on the everdrive then play those same games with the FDS, you can tell a huge difference.



    Also I hear of some incompatibility with the everdrive/powerpak and it playing some certain FDS games (I do not know which, I just remember hearing of such).  This device is compatible with all disks.



    The pricing is currently $27.50, and it is being sold at my store, http://famicom.tech check it out.



    Thanks,



    James
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    Wasn't there also some sort of dongle for the Famicom that someone created that "perfectly" emulated the whole FDS and had a USB port to accept flash drives full of FDS images/ROMs? Not that this isn't a neat piece of hardware, but if I ever get to the point where I want to buy a Famicom, I don't want to also have to pick up an FDS to go along with it, even if I can just feed it ROMs. I seem to recall reading about such a device and seeing pictures of it sometime in the last couple of weeks, but can't recall where.
  • dra600ndra600n
    Originally posted by: jamesholodnak

    The biggest reason for using this device is perfect FDS sound.  Instead of badly emulated FDS sound coming from the everdrive/powerpak, it is the real FDS hardware...so it has the real FDS sound.  Play a few FDS games on the everdrive then play those same games with the FDS, you can tell a huge difference.



    Also I hear of some incompatibility with the everdrive/powerpak and it playing some certain FDS games (I do not know which, I just remember hearing of such).  This device is compatible with all disks.



    The pricing is currently $27.50, and it is being sold at my store, http://famicom.tech check it out.



    Thanks,



    James




    I didn't know about the sound thing the price is awesome, though.
  • Diamante LocoDiamante Loco
    Originally posted by: darkchylde28

    Wasn't there also some sort of dongle for the Famicom that someone created that "perfectly" emulated the whole FDS and had a USB port to accept flash drives full of FDS images/ROMs? Not that this isn't a neat piece of hardware, but if I ever get to the point where I want to buy a Famicom, I don't want to also have to pick up an FDS to go along with it, even if I can just feed it ROMs. I seem to recall reading about such a device and seeing pictures of it sometime in the last couple of weeks, but can't recall where.





    Luckily, you can find the RAM adapter for around $20 by itself (last I looked online) so you don't need the FDS drive itself with one of these dongle devices.
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28

    Originally posted by: g_block



    Luckily, you can find the RAM adapter for around $20 by itself (last I looked online) so you don't need the FDS drive itself with one of these dongle devices.



    Ok, I understand now.  For some reason I thought the "FDSStick" that I'd read about previously (had to go blindly Google for it) took the place of the FDS whereas the MWC was just feeding images to an actual FDS.  In reality, both devices perform the same function, but the MWC is preferable due to having removable/non-permanent memory, whereas the FDSStick has onboard storage which will eventually wear out.



    James,



    Does the MWC come with any sort of covering and/or is one available?  Now that I understand what's going on, I'm very interested in picking one up but reluctant to leave the electronics bare while in use..
  • jamesholodnakjamesholodnak
    I am actively working on the case for it.  Should be ready sometime soon.  Upon completion of the case, if you've already purchased one, I will provide the files necessary for people to get one made (via shapeways or 3d printer at home)...and it will be included with all sold from that point forward.



    Thanks,



    James
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    James,



    Would the cases be available for purchase after-the-fact, or could we pre-pay to get a case when they come out? I appreciate the offer of the files, but I (and I imagine a lot of others) don't have any personal or professional access to a 3D printer and am somewhat wary of the pricing & quality of the various "print on demand" services available online. If you have an idea of what the cases would cost, I'd be happy to buy one of your boards now for a little more and just have the case mailed to me later on.
  • BratwurstBratwurst
    It doesn't look like the circuit board has any through-holes or any other obvious way for a plastic case to secure around it. Regardless, this is very cool and it's tempting to grab a Famicom and the Disk System RAM adapter, because the sound emulation of the Everdrive does leave something to be desired for FDS games.
  • VGS_fcgamerVGS_fcgamer
    Here is an interesting read, which shows both the fdsstick and this one:



    http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=12542.0
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    Originally posted by: tracker465



    Here is an interesting read, which shows both the fdsstick and this one:



    http://www.famicomworld.com/forum...



    Neat read, but going through that thread, it looks like it was actually talking about the FDSStick versus the predecessor to the MWC.  The FDSemu (from the link) looks/looked like a chunkier version of the FDSStick which tried to fix a few odd shortcomings of the FDSStick (whose creator didn't see it that way).  The MWC, based on its specs and my (limited, honestly) understanding of it all, seems to be another step up and an overall improvement on the FDSStick (better menus, SRAM buffering, replaceable flash media) and FDSemu (streamlined design, replaceable flash media).  Case or not, I went ahead and pulled the trigger, as I'm eager to get one of these and play with it.  I see where someone actually mounted it inside of their FDS RAM adapter, so if an official case takes too long to come to light, I can always follow that example to keep it well protected but useful.

     
  • jamesholodnakjamesholodnak
    I had made the fdsemu.  I originally made it because I was dissatisfied with the small flash size and lack of a menu on the fdsstick, and because in 2013 I had given this same idea some time, but never completed it.  So I did two years later.  The issue I had with these USB based devices is, the USB!  It appeared the majority of people used it for only playing games, not utilizing the disk reading/writing functions.  So, knowing this, I decided to make one with SD card based media for game storage.



    There is a case for the original fdsemu, it was not made by me but made by a customer of mine (located here http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1301401).  I am submitting my design for a case for magic wild card right now, and hopefully it is a winner.  The case is held to the device by small plastic tabs built into the case, and it stays in place by some well-placed plastic "blocks" inside the case.  If all goes well, within two weeks or so I can begin selling them with the case.  The design files can be used to have a case printed by shapeways which I would recommend, I have heard many good things about them.  I have a local guy here in nashville that I have lined up to print all the cases for me in bulk, I just have to get the design right because he didn't seem to interested in helping me get my design right, just printing them in bulk for me.



    Thanks for you time,



    James
  • jamesholodnakjamesholodnak
    I have changed prices to reflect the new cases. Check the store at famicom.tech and buy with a case now!
  • darkchylde28darkchylde28
    Originally posted by: jamesholodnak



    I have changed prices to reflect the new cases. Check the store at famicom.tech and buy with a case now!



    As I already bought (and received) one, is there any chance of being able to buy just a case direct from you, without having to work directly with a 3D printing company?
  • mamejaymamejay
    I know this is an old thread but I just created a case myself for the Magi Wild Card. Can be downloaded at

    https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2379555
  • CZroeCZroe
    Has anyone ever considered adapting an FDS RAM cartridge to the NES and integrating it with something like this? It could probably be accomplished through the cartridge slot with the appropriate jumpers at the expansion port.



    All this talk about 3D printed cases got me wondering. Heck, even transplanting to a new PCB to get it into an NES game pak would be cool.
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