The Development Hardware Guide

I thought it might be a good idea for people in the know on systems to post some info on them, so we can learn what systems are available for a particular console, and what a complete setup should consist of.

I can update this first thread with the results, or if it seems better, make a table and link to it.

THE LIST

Atari 2600
Atari 5200
Atari 7800
Atari Jaguar
Atari Jaguar CD
Atari Lynx
Bandai/Apple Pippin
Microsoft XBox
NEC PC Engine/TurboGrafx
NEC PC Engine CD
NEC PC FX
NEC SuperGrafx
Nintendo Famicom/NES
Nintendo Famicon Disk System
Nintendo Super Famicom/Super Nintendo
Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64DD
Nintendo Gamecube
Nintendo Gameboy
Nintendo Gameboy Advance
Nintendo Virtual Boy
Nintendo DS
Panasonic 3DO
Phillips CD-i
Sega Mark III/Master System
Sega MegaDrive/Genesis
Sega Mega CD/Sega CD
Sega 32X
Sega Saturn
-Sophia Programming Box
-Cross Products CartDev
-Psygnosis/SN Systems Psy-Q
Sega Dreamcast
Sega GameGear
SNK Neo Geo
SNK Neo Geo CD
SNK Neo Geo MVS
SNK Neo Geo Pocket
Sony Playstation
Sony Playstation 2
Sony PSP

Let's hear it then!

What official/unofficial dev kits are there?
What major revisions exist?
What cables/manuals/software came with the kit?

 

I'll offer Saturn first.....

Sophia Saturn Programming Box
Original official development kit
Only (minor) revisions were BIOS updates (6 if I recall)
Usually sold in a kit with the E7000PC and VCD board.
Came with: cables (AV, EVA board Reset Cable, SCSI cable), PGA Socket for SH2 Pod, development software, manuals, control pad and packing list. I believe the full kit had 2 pads.

Add-ons:
HitachiE7000PC ICE :- An In-Circuit Emulator. If this wasn't used, a second SH2 CPU board was needed.
Comprises: E7000PC, SH2 Pod, SH2 PC Interface Board, cables, manuals, software
Sophia Sound Box :- Sound development tool.
Comes with: Saturn Sound Tools software, SCSI cable, power cord
Sophia Graphics Box :- Similar to the Programming Box, but doesn't support the CD drive, VCD system, or extended memory. For graphics development.
Comes with: same as Programming Box, but only 1 control pad.
VCD Board :- Virtual CD ISA card for PC. Emulates CD drive.
Comes with: cable, notes.
Sega/SI Electronics Saturn Address Checker :- Custom Saturn for address checking.
Comes with: PC interface board, interface cable, control pad, stereo a/v cable, power cable, Address Checker control command software disk, user's manual and technical manual.
Yamaha CDE 100 :- Standard CD-RW drive

Cross Products CartDev
Listed on Sega's price list. Originally a cheaper alternative to the Sophia unit, but eventually replaced it.
Two versions - Rev. A and Rev. B. Rev. A was notoriously tempremental, a lot ended up in bins or being sent back to upgrade.. or used as parts!
Comprises: CartDev unit, M-Saturn (modified Saturn with NMI and VCD interface), SNASM2 development software and manuals.

Add-ons:
Cross Mirage :- External CD Emulation system. Used as alternative to VCD board :- either can be used on Sophia or CartDev.
Comes with: software, cables and manual.
CartDev SIMM buffer board :- Memory expansion board for CartDev. Takes 72pin SIMMs.

Psygnosis/SN Systems Psy-Q
"unofficial" development system
A few minor revisions. Early machines came with a larger interface PCB instead of the Target Interface adapter cartridge.
Comprises: Target Interface cartridge, Psy-Q SCSI card, SCSI cable, software, manuals.

Add-ons:
Psy-Q Saturn :- Modified production Saturn, with a VCD port. This was not necessary, and the manual suggests you can use an ordinary production Saturn.

 

WTF is a wiki?

It is a thread for now, so I can get people to contribute and I'll collate the data. Then I'll make a web page with a nice table of the information or something.

As I said, it isn't a comprehensive database of dev kits. It isn't a how to use a dev kit. Its just a reference to look at in circumstances like:

dev kit on eBay, you wanna know if it needs any extra bits

dev kit on eBay, you wanna know if it is a good one to get (e.g. Saturn CartDev rev. A - stay away!!)

you collect N64 and want to see what different dev hardware there is to add to your collection

So, get writing guys!