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Epoch - Cassette Vision (PD777)

Background

μPD777 is an emulator for the Epoch Cassette Vision, from Japan in 1981. It was one of the first Japanese consoles with interchangeable cartridges, but included a full CPU in each cartridge --- the console base was mostly buttons and wires.

The Cassette Vision Jr (1983) used the same software, but dropped the paddle controls.

PD777 is a Libretro port, to run in RetroArch.

The PD777 core has been authored by:

  • W88DodPECuThLOl (Standalone PD777)
  • Ken Mitton

The PD777 core is licensed under:

A summary of the licenses behind RetroArch and its cores can be found here.

Requirements

Minimal.

How to start the PD777 core:

ROM file handling is slightly awkward because of the two-file ROM format.

  1. Zip-files (bundling one .bin777 and one .ptn777) are supported.
  2. Supply a .bin777 file to load; the core looks for a similarly-named .ptn777 file in the same directory.

There is not yet a suitable single-file format for the Cassette Vision. If ROM loading fails, the core will run a built-in balloon demo, as in standalone emulator.

BIOS

None.

Extensions

Content that can be loaded by the PD777 core have the following file extensions:

  • .zip
  • .bin777

RetroArch database(s) that are associated with the PD777 core:

  • None yet

Features

Frontend-level settings or features that the PD777 core respects:

Feature Supported
Restart ✔
Saves ✕
States ✕
Rewind ✕
Netplay ✕
Core Options ✕
Memory Monitoring (achievements) ✕
RetroArch Cheats ✕
Native Cheats ✕
Controls ✔
Remapping ✔
Multi-Mouse ✕
Rumble ✕
Sensors ✕
Camera ✕
Location ✕
Subsystem ✕
Softpatching ✕
Disk Control ✕
Username ✕
Language ✕
Crop Overscan ✕
LEDs ✕

Directories

None.

Geometry and timing

  • The PD777 core's core provided FPS is 60.
  • The PD777 core's core provided sample rate is 48000/00 Hz.
  • The PD777 core's base width is 375.
  • The PD777 core's base height is 240.
  • The PD777 core's core provided aspect ratio is 4:3. 375x240, 60 FPS.

Usage

Standard.

Core options

Input > Announce Course Switch: Show the new setting of the Course Select Switch when changing it with up/down buttons.

User 1 device types

The PD777 core supports the following device type(s) in the controls menu, bolded device types are the default for the specified user(s):

  • RetroPad
  • RetroPad w/Analog
  • Mouse

Joypad

The controls were built into the base unit, and some 2-player games assign buttons asymmetrically; for example, New Baseball gives most of the buttons to the fielding player, with just Lever Switch 1 for the batting player.

RetroPad Inputs User # input descriptors (Device name) Inputs
Push2 -
Push3 -
Select -
Start -
Course Select increment -
Course Select decrement -
Lever Switch 1 Left -
Lever Switch 1 Right -
Push4 -
Push1 -
-
AUX -
-
-
-
-
X Paddle 2 -
Y Paddle 1 -
X -
Y -

RetroPad 2 gets Lever Switch 2 and Paddles 3 and 4.

None.