SFDG FAQ - Super Famicom Development Group Frequently Asked Questions
By Carl Mueller: carl@busop.cit.wayne.edu.
Modified by Charles Doty: cdoty@aloha.net on Nov. 29,1995.
Q. What exactly is the Super Famicom?
A. The Super Famicom is the Japanese version of the American SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). As far as hardware goes, they are generally the same and play the same games (SF games can be played on the SNES and vice versa). The Super Famicom however has a different appearance than the SNES, but other than cosmetic differences, they are virtually the same system.
Q. What exactly do people use to develope games on the SNES?
A. _Professional_ developers, to my knowledge, use a PC and a special 65816 assembler called SNASM which assembles and allows debugging of 65816 code, also included is a device which (I believe) plugs into the SNES and you download code from your PC to the SNES through a SCSI interface. This developers kit is available through Nintendo, but to my knowledge is *extremely* expensive (say around $5000), and Nintendo won't sell it to you unless you belong to a gaming company.
Q. What about the demos I've seen floating about, how were those made?
A. There are also console "backup" devices like the Super Magicom (SNES/ Super Famicom backup), Super MagicDrive (Sega Genesis backup), and MultiGame Hunter (Genesis and SNES backup) to name a few. People download their own code to these devices using 65816 cross assemblers (apparently availabe to most major platforms), and the SNES runs it. You have to have a pretty good knowledge of the SNES hardware, and of course be an expert 65816 assembler.
Q. Where can I get some files which explain the technicial details of the SNES, like memory locations and such?
A. An limited FTP site is available. ftp teeri.oulu.fi. Development files should be located in \pub\console\nintendo. A Console programming WWW page is available at http://www.aloha.net/~cdoty/console.htm. Also, you should be able to find utilities such as assemblers and disassemblers.
Q. What the heck is an 65816 ?
A. It's a microprocessor made by Western Design which is a basically a souped up 16-bit version of the 6502 (used in older computers like the Commodore 64, etc) and is currently (and probably for enternity) only used in the Apple IIgs system, and of course the SNES/Super Famicom systems. It has 16-bit internal registers and an 8-bit bus.
Q. How do I start working for Nintendo, then ?
A. Probably the best way to land a job programming for the SNES would be to prove yourself an 65816 expert, and send them a demo of a game written perferably on a DIFFERENT platform (say like the Apple IIgs might be a good computer to show a demo on), Nintendo may not like the fact that you've been coding on their system without any licenses. Or, you can try to get a job at a company that produces SNES games by showing them your game, and getting them to LEGALLY license it.
Q. Where do I get a copy of this "Developers Manual" everyone seems to be talking about?
A. You don't. Nintendo distributes their developers manual only to licensed game programmers and is apparently very strict about it being copied or information being let out from it. Plus, if you paid $5,000 for a developers kit, would you be so quick to send out copies of the manual?
Well, that's it so far. I may not be the best person to write this FAQ, but so far I'm the only one who has been willing to do it. If you wish to make modifications, let me know. Your free to make additions/modifcations to this document. Just send the revised document to my mail box and I will replace this one.
carl@busop.cit.wayne.edu
cdoty@aloha.net
