Mauro Xavier

Retro developer and old game enthusiast.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@naomequestione Lembrando que desta vez a IA reinou quase que absolutamente e sem ela eu sozinho não conseguiria tirar este jogo do papel.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

Alone in the Dark for Mega Drive - First Video
#SGDK #MegaDrive #SEGAGenesis
https://t.co/CmSICIeXMm

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@santikapowski The game can already be completed, but its performance makes for an unpleasant experience. I intend to fix bugs and push the console to its absolute limit, then polish things as much as possible before making the ROM available to everyone.

[Todd Gill - Retro Frog @ToddsNerdCave]

My #NeoGeo port of Cho Ren Sha 68k. Recorded from my MVS board.

Goes through power up, eye catcher, title screen and gameplay.

I've massively optimized the x68000 original to run fantastically on the Neo Geo.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

Com IA avançando a níveis absurdos, nem engine vai precisar. Triste pra alguns, bom pra outros. Só espero que não lotem demais os consoles com IA sloop e tech demo que não vão pra frente, porque aí deixa a comunidade bem perdida. A IA é excelente pra ser usada, mas um pouco de carinho, polimento e paciência são muito bem-vindos. A comunidade retrô merece bons resultados, independentemente do console.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@R0N3Y34 Mapear toda a casa é uma ótima ideia, tipo o que fizeram com o Diablo 1 e 2 em primeira pessoa. Pensarei nisso futuramente para outro console.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

What happens when I combine everything I know about programming and the Mega Drive, a LOT of patience digging into technical challenges, some vibe coding, and cutting-edge AI?

What seemingly impossible game could we port to a stock Mega Drive without enhancement chips?

The graphics and performance still need work, but I've already managed to play through the entire game from start to finish without a single crash!

Can you guess the game from these screenshots?

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@Bruno_BRSX Humm... Vou procurar entre meus contatos se alguém tem exatamente esta configura��ão e o controle M30.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

I didn’t expect so many views and interactions on a simple post about an Alone in the Dark port for the Mega Drive, a project created almost entirely using AI. I now understand why so many people develop AI-assisted ports just to generate hype; unfortunately, many of them (though not all) end up leaving the project riddled with bugs or releasing it without proper testing, simply because the hype has already died down. What I can guarantee is that whenever I’m involved in a project, regardless of whether AI is used, my goal is to provide the best possible experience for the community. I will do everything in my power not to disappoint the fans of this game, as I am one of them myself.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

Entendo seu ponto de vista! Vai ser não, já está sendo bem complicado. Pra manter míseros 15 FPS em algumas partes deste port já está sendo um parto porque nem a IA esmagando os tokens dá conta, tenho que ficar propondo "gambiarras" pra coisa funcionar de forma minimamente convincente.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@faerun4lyf @96Jpcr There is already a well-made port for the 32X, so I believe the developer would simply need to direct the AI ​​to use the CD as the source for the software and audio (I’m oversimplifying things quite a bit, as not everything is that easy, even when using AI).

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@faerun4lyf @AndresRuggiero3 With only 64 KB of RAM and 64 KB of VRAM, it would be impossible to store anything, as every bit of memory is pushed to its limit, leaving almost no free space. The vast majority of data must be streamed from the ROM.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@ray_castello There are certain instances where I am averse to the use of AI, but when it comes to creating ports and, more importantly, bringing to life things that were supposedly impossible, I’ve come to view it in a positive light, provided that it doesn’t harm anyone.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

So, in the case of Alone in the Dark, there’s a lot of work ahead, and I don’t necessarily mean in terms of programming, as the AI, when well-orchestrated, is doing a fantastic job (and burning through tokens). However, the more than 190 scenes will require a meticulous, manual visual review to further elevate the quality; after all, this game deserves it.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@Bruno_BRSX Caramba, que coisa estranha! Será que tem alguma relação com a revisão do console? Eu tive problemas com meus próprios jogos; até o Final Fight MD dava problemas de sincronização, mas com as atualizações tudo foi resolvido. Qual é o modelo e a versão do seu console?

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@Bruno_BRSX Muito estranho. Eu tive o mesmo problema e alguns amigos meus também. Atualizamos e deu certo. Você atualizou o receptor também (o que é ligado no console)? Se atualizar apenas o controle, não é suficiente.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@Bruno_BRSX Não tem ligação com IA; vários homebrews feitos com base no SGDK dão isso. Você precisa atualizar o controle e o receptor do M30. Tem o firmware no site da 8bitdo.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@ReanimationXP @SqrRootNegOne @ray_castello I’m still fine-tuning performance and squashing a few bugs, but it shouldn’t take too long; after all, the AI ​​is handling most of the heavy lifting (and burning through tokens like crazy, lol). Once this phase is done, I’ll release the ROM publicly for everyone.

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

@dtb26 The version for 32X already exists and works!
https://t.co/LgyPztDJe0

[Mauro Xavier @MXRetroDev]

I’ll be posting a video soon, and believe me, it’s not as slow as I had imagined it would be, though that’s obviously because many parts are pre-rendered as sprites. It reminded me of playing the DOS version of Alone in the Dark on a 386 DX 33, while the more intense sections also brought to mind my 386 SX 16 MHz machine…