ZBox (Tentative Title) Project, Need Some Pointers With It

jlacroix · Post by **jlacroix** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 3:53 am

Hello all, due to the fact I am extremely bored and I need something to do, I decided to make a ZSNES set-top box. I posted about this before I think, but didnt know how to explain it so you guys were probably clueless.

Anyhow, I have an old computer case and parts, and eventually I want to make it into a ZSNES set top box of sorts, just enough resources to run ZSNES, and it would be used for nothing else. It will hook up to my big screen tv in my living room.

I have several "tasks" that I would need to implement to make it all work. Some may not even be possible and I may need alternatives.

Basically, I am thinking of a Linux based PC with no window manager or gui, to run ZSNES and ZSNES only. Obvioulsy I'd have to have X11 installed, but aside from that, nothing else gui like except maybe a front end. (I don't think any good Linux front ends exist, though.)

Here is what I would need to accomplish:

1.) A gui-less Linux installation, that would boot into ZSNES, not into Gnome or KDE since there will be no Gnome or KDE. I assume I would need a zsnes "user" to automatically log in and run the zsnes command without me havng to do it.

2.) No keyboard or mouse, strictly the controller would control everything. Including selecting a game. Of course a mouse would be attachable if absolutely necessary to tweak its settings. I assume I would need to set a joypad or remote shortcut key to access the load rom menu.

3.) TV-out video card. (This is probably the easiest part).

4.) Lan network access, you know, to network to other computers in the house for multiplayer games. Maybe a way to add roms via the network from a PC.

Finally

5.) CD images, I would want to image the hard drive in case I need to restore it in the future once I get it set up how I like it.

Basically I need help with as much of the above as possible, on how I might pull this off.

Any suggestions?

Richard C. · Post by **Richard C.** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:45 am

you should get a mini itx board and mount it inside a snes

Lord Alpha · Post by **Lord Alpha** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:19 pm

My $.02:

Does the non-GUIl issue really matter? What I mean is, are you trying to save space by not installing the GUI stuff or are you just trying to avoid using one? Either way I doubt this matters, I'm just curious. Most Linux distros will let you choose not to install a GUI at all.

If however, you can't seem to find a distro that refuses to not install a GUI then you can always edit your /etc/initab file and change the default runlevel to whatever the multiuser console value is (in my case 3).

For ZSNES to start automatically, I would simply add a line like /usr/local/bin/zsnes to /etc/rc.d/rc.local although there is probably a much better way to do this.

As far as the network goes, that shouldn't be a problem as long as you know how to compile the kernel. Same goes for the joystick.

I use a Saitek P880, and Linux plays very nicely with it. Ignore this if your box doesn't/won't have USB

I reccomend an nVidia video card, it works wonderfully.

BTW, I have a similar setup to the TV in my room, and I ran ZSNES Linux beautifully

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 5:49 pm

Doesn't Turbo Linux use only a command-line interface....?

Lord Alpha · Post by **Lord Alpha** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:42 pm

I don't know. I know Slackware is easy to handle when it comes to GUI removal/installation, but I'm trying not to reccomend a specific distro. Methinks he has one in mind

PHoNyMiKe · Post by **PHoNyMiKe** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:57 pm

would it be easier to just have dos 6.2 on the pc, and have a .bat file execute zsnes on startup? you could have the controller scroll through the list of roms and shit.

Richard C. · Post by **Richard C.** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:44 am

isnt there a way to melt a pen so that you can make a bit to open the snes case with? i tried it all last night, but i cant seem to do it.

bztunk · Post by **bztunk** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:47 am

phonymike wrote:would it be easier to just have dos 6.2 on the pc, and have a .bat file execute zsnes on startup? you could have the controller scroll through the list of roms and shit.

and it would boot faster.

PHoNyMiKe · Post by **PHoNyMiKe** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:57 am

Richard C. wrote:isnt there a way to melt a pen so that you can make a bit to open the snes case with? i tried it all last night, but i cant seem to do it.

it takes a couple tries but yes. take a CLEAR plastic bic pen, the brittle kind, heat the end a little with a lighter, and jam it into the socket. let it cool for maybe 5 seconds, then apply firm pressure and turn counterclockwise. it may take a couple tries, but you can get all the screws out like this.

AntoineWG · Post by **AntoineWG** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 6:12 am

bztunk wrote:
phonymike wrote:would it be easier to just have dos 6.2 on the pc, and have a .bat file execute zsnes on startup? you could have the controller scroll through the list of roms and shit.
and it would boot faster.

Not to mention take up far less disk space, memory and system resources, and be a lot easier to set up.

bwmat · Post by **bwmat** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:07 am

Also i suggest you use a CF->ide converter
less noise, and it will work forever.

jlacroix · Post by **jlacroix** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:15 am

It does look like Dos 6.2 has several things that would make the project easier.

However, I have used the WIndows version of ZSNES, and I don't know if its just me, but the Linux version seems to run faster and look better. I've never used the DOS version before, how is that in comparison to the Linux version?

Now, when it comes to DOS, I have some further questions:

1.) Is FreeDOS okay to use? I can get my hands on that very easilly.

2.) How the heck do I get sound to work in DOS? I never had that work in DOS before.

3.) For that matter, how would I get a USB controller to work? USB support was added in Windows 95 OSR2, wasn't it? Gameport joysticks are next to impossible to find these days.

4.) Does DOS handle the TV-Out thing well?

Finally

5.) Can I truly use the joystick to select games with the DOS version? Or am I looking for a DOS frontend?

I'm also wondering if I could just use Windows 98 and instead of "shell=explorer" do "shell=zsnes". Just an idea.

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:47 am

DOS Doesn't support USB, and as such, you won't get USB support in it.
As for getting the sound to work in DOS, there's a certain init string that is specific to your sound card, and you type it into your Autoexec.bat file, I could be wrong here.

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:43 am

jlacroix wrote:How the heck do I get sound to work in DOS? I never had that work in DOS before.

What kind of sound card do you have?

I have two in my system: the newer one that came with the PC, and the old SBPro2 clone from my old 80486. The new one doesn't work in DOS, and the old one must be initialized by two programs...

metalhedd · Post by **metalhedd** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 4:52 am

linux is definitely the best way to go in this case since you want networking and good USB Support. I'm a big fan of gentoo linux.
linux requires a user to log in. I believe kdm (the kde graphical login client) can be configured to automatically log in, and I'm sure a really light-weight WM like fluxbox will be able to start zsnes on startup. the main issue is that you can't use the controller to load/unload roms in zsnes, what I would suggest is mapping your joystick buttons to keystrokes in X and having fluxbox start some sort of file manager in your rom's directory, the joystick should be able to select the rom file and you can have it opened with zsnes.
good luck

kevman · Post by **kevman** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 5:28 am

Please don't revive an old thread unless you have a question related to it. Do not revive it to add to it. It was dying for a reason.

Post by **Agozer** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:49 am

*Click*