Jag CD memory questions

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Mr SQL
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Jag CD memory questions

Post by Mr SQL » Wed Nov 19, 2014 6:27 am

Hello Jaguar programmers! :)

Question on the Jag CD memory - how much RAM is available for CD-only games?

ie, how much RAM is in the CD add-on to load the binary? Is that RAM volatile or does it act like ROM only? The CD add-on for the VCS gives us 6K of flash RAM which can act like ROM and load a standard cart image, but it can also be dynamically changed like RAM and even preinitialised like static RAM. Can we do the same tricks with the RAM in the Jag CD?

How common is the Jag CD - do most gamers have one?

If you write a CD game (and don't modify the RAM used to load the binary) can it be easily converted to a cart ROM for distribution? I assume if you are also streaming content off the CD there's no way that's going into the cart/capacity.
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Re: Jag CD memory questions

Post by a31chris » Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:50 am

There is no onboard ram enhancement in the Jaguar CD player. The Jaguar CD player is probably owned by 50% or better of Jaguar owners.
What came after the Jaguar was the PS1 which for all it's greatness, ushered in corporate development and with it the bleached, repetitive, bland titles which for the most part we're still playing today. - David Wightman

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Re: Jag CD memory questions

Post by a31chris » Sat Nov 22, 2014 6:00 pm

Here is the tech and schematic information if it means anything to you.

http://console5.com/wiki/Atari_Jaguar_CD
What came after the Jaguar was the PS1 which for all it's greatness, ushered in corporate development and with it the bleached, repetitive, bland titles which for the most part we're still playing today. - David Wightman

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Re: Jag CD memory questions

Post by Mr SQL » Sat Nov 22, 2014 9:35 pm

a31chris wrote:Here is the tech and schematic information if it means anything to you.

http://console5.com/wiki/Atari_Jaguar_CD
Thanks for the info Chris! Surprised that memory expansion was not part of the add-on; a ton of content (relatively) can be streamed from CD or loaded as needed but the game core has to take a big chunk out of system RAM - I guess the idea was cart+CD, not just standalone CD games.
Learn Assembly Language on the Atari VCS in 8 hours, free online! :)
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/210550 ... try2757566

The Best SQL Server IDE is FREE and written in SQL! :) http://RelationalFramework.com

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a31chris
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Re: Jag CD memory questions

Post by a31chris » Sat Nov 22, 2014 11:11 pm

Mr SQL wrote:
a31chris wrote:Here is the tech and schematic information if it means anything to you.

http://console5.com/wiki/Atari_Jaguar_CD
Thanks for the info Chris! Surprised that memory expansion was not part of the add-on; a ton of content (relatively) can be streamed from CD or loaded as needed but the game core has to take a big chunk out of system RAM - I guess the idea was cart+CD, not just standalone CD games.
Though it has never been done, apparently the Jaguars RAM can be expanded a bit through cartridge. Though it would be slower of course.
What came after the Jaguar was the PS1 which for all it's greatness, ushered in corporate development and with it the bleached, repetitive, bland titles which for the most part we're still playing today. - David Wightman

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