I've always wondered if it would be possible to create an SDK to abstract the N64 graphics hardware and expose some modern primitives, lighting, shading, tools to bake lighting as this demo does, etc. The N64 has some pretty unique hardware for its generation, more details on the hardware are here on Copetti.org:
The system has seen a dozen of its most popular games decompiled [1] into readable source files, which enables easy porting to PC without an emulator. It also enables a ton of mods to be written, many of which will run on the original hardware.
There are numerous Zelda fan remakes [2]. Complete games with new dungeons and storylines.
The Mario 64 scene is on fire. Kaze has deeply optimized the game [3], and is building his own engine and sequels. If you like technical deep dives into retro tech, his channel is literally golden.
Folks are making crazy demos for the platform, such as Portal [4], which unfortunately brought Valve's lawyers' attention.
Lost games, such as Rare's Dinosaur Planet [5], have leaked, been brought up to near production ready status, been decompiled, and have seen their own indie resurgence.
[1] https://wiki.deco.mp/index.php/N64
[2] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bZl8xKDUryI
[3] https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCuvSqzfO_LV_QzHdmEj84SQ
The whole channel is gold. He has dozens of deep dives like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DdXLpoNLywg
And his game and engine are beautiful: https://youtu.be/Drame-4ufso
GT3 heatwave summarizes it well.
"I showed a demo of GT3 that showed the Seattle course at sunset with the heat rising off the ground and shimmering. You can’t re-create that heat haze effect on the PS3 because the read-modify-write just isn’t as fast as when we were using the PS2. There are things like that."
https://old.reddit.com/r/ps2/comments/1cktw88/gran_turismos_...
https://youtu.be/ybi9SdroCTA?t=4103
It's not trying to emulate a real heatwave as new engines like UE5 does, that just tanks fps. It does "tricks" to do it instead. And honestly, looking at RTX tanking frame rates, I would rather have these cheap tricks.
A 299MHz MIPS runs this:
Shadow of the Colossus... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMKtYM8AzC8
GoW2 https://youtu.be/IpKLwIIdvuk?si=TjifKmlYsUuvhk0F&t=970
FFXII https://youtu.be/NytHoYOs_4M?si=jE1Fxy40khEvV6Bn&t=51
GT4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6lZIxk_h9g (THE BOOTSCREEN crying)
Black (Renderware was a crazy engine) https://youtu.be/bZBjcwyq7fQ?si=Pev5ifpksJm4X6Oi&t=356
Valkyrie profile 2 https://youtu.be/9ScjO4NuUtA?si=Z29cR-hLsT2pnP2I&t=38
Rouge Galaxy https://youtu.be/iR1evzyl-7Q?si=fldm3-NnuFxOITMn&t=624
Burnout 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r5r0nE1sA4
Jak and Daxter, Ratchet.
For GC - RE4, Metroid, The Zeldas... ofc. Looks crazy good.
I kneel.
typeofhuman•2h ago
Dwedit•2h ago
bob1029•2h ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31075622
90s_dev•2h ago
I wish I didn't think of a significantly better architecture for my 2d-pixel-art-game-maker-maker this weekend. Now it'll be another month before I can release it :(
01HNNWZ0MV43FF•1h ago
90s_dev•1h ago
01HNNWZ0MV43FF•41m ago
jebarker•1h ago
90s_dev•1h ago
- Limited map size
- Limited color palette I think
- and more!
jebarker•1h ago
90s_dev•1h ago
Sharlin•51m ago