Assembler?

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Jones
3DO ZERO USER
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Assembler?

Post by Jones » Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:17 pm

Hi folks,


somewhere I've heard that it's not possible to write
programs in assembler code for the 3DO - true?
And if so, why?

(Anyone fancies to write an assembler code Doom engine,
using the Doom2.wad, the music of 3DO Doom 1 and include
a link option via the expansion port...? :) )


Best regards,
Chris

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3DOKid
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Post by 3DOKid » Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:52 pm

Hello Mate,

I don't know whether you absolutely could not write code natively for the hardware or not, but I do know that 3DO encourage developers to write code for the 3DO Operating System. This is why John Carmack was a big fan of the Jaguar and not the 3DO. Since on the Jag you could write code straight to the hardware.

Mobius

Post by Mobius » Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:44 pm

I've written some assembly for FreeDO. I see no reason it couldn't be done for the hardware. It's possible you could see some funky incompatibility with the different hardware iterations, though.

Jones
3DO ZERO USER
Posts: 180
Joined: Wed Nov 17, 2010 1:32 pm
Location: Germany

Post by Jones » Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:21 pm

Compatibility-issues are interesting.
I've heard of some games that are said not to work on Goldstar
models.
But I am really wondering why?
I thought, each model was built using the same given technical
specifications and plans, provided by the 3DO company.
Okay, the PCBs look a bit different, but that was only due to optical
design for the consoles body-shape.

But...
If they really *were not* technically identical - is that also the reason
for all the different BIOSes? And what exactly *are* the specific
differences in the PCB (except for the layout)?

PS: Sorry for my crude English. I just cannot speak properly today... :-/

Mobius

Post by Mobius » Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:18 am

My guess is that each iteration of the hardware was built closely, but not perfectly, to the specification. Bugs, basically.

As for the different BIOSes, I haven't compared any, but my guess would be that the differences are mostly just cosmetic. Each company wanting to put their own logos in, etc.

I know nothing about the PCBs. Sorry.

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