Introduction

■Purpose of this binder

This manual provides the information necessary to develop application software, such as how to use tools, how to boot up, how to use libraries, how to create programs, and how to create CDs.

■Target of this binder

This manual is intended for programmers who are creating application software.

■Others

In order to provide you with the most up-to-date and accurate information as soon as possible, corrections to the contents of the manual and additions of more detailed information will always be provided along with the provided software. Please be sure to read the additional manual for the provided media. Additional manuals are located in the [\SATURN\xxxxx\MAN\] directory.
In this guide, we have collected the content needed by programmers, organized it, and tried to deliver it in a manageable amount of information. We would like to listen to the voices of users and take action as soon as possible, so please let us know your opinions .

■Composition of this binder

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＜＜ Programmer's Guide＞＞

●Software system guide

We will explain the basic knowledge for creating a program that runs on the development target box and the actual product game machine.

●Software library guide

In order to develop application programs in a short period of time, we have compiled a library of highly useful programs. This section describes the operating environment and usage of the library. Software libraries provide the functionality needed for game development. Of course, you can also use your own program without using the software library. Many software libraries disclose their source code. By using this source code, you can quickly learn programming for this game console, and by customizing it, you can create a library that matches the characteristics of the game you are developing.

●CD Tool Guide

We have prepared tools tailored to the debugging phase so that you can debug without actually creating a CD. We will explain the operating environment and how to use the tool.

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＜＜ Software system guide＞＞

●BOOT ROM User's Manual

This section explains the functions of BOOT ROM and how applications boot up.

●DISC format standard specifications

We will explain the matters that must be observed in order to create a GAME-CD.

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＜＜ Software library guide＞＞

●System library user's guide

●System program

●SMPC I/F

●CD communication I/F

These libraries must be used when using the respective hardware.

●Program Library User's Guide 1 CD Library

●File system library

●Stream system library

●MPEG library

The CD library can be used with functions ranging from intelligent to primitive, depending on the purpose. Intelligent functions make it easy to use not only for games but also for various multimedia software.

●Program Library User's Guide 2 Graphics-related libraries

●VDP1 library

●VDP2 library

●Mathematics calculation library

●DSP I/F library

In addition to basic 2D scrolling and sprite control functions, we have prepared a group of functions for each level, including 3D object control functions using mathematical calculations and 3D high-speed processing programs using DSP.

●Program library user's guide 3

●Sound I/F library

●DMA library

●Cache library

●Interrupt management library

●Memory management library

●Timer library

●Debug support library

●Compression/decompression library

●Sample program user's guide

●Sample game program

We have prepared practical sample programs to help you learn the basics of game programming. Of course, the source code is included, so you can freely change it and get used to making games.

●Sample data

We provide data that is useful for game creation in the form of samples. Of course, you can freely customize it and use it in your application software.

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＜＜ CD tool guide＞＞

●Simple CD simulator

Instead of reading files from a CD, you can read files from memory or hard disk for debugging.

●Virtual CD system

You can read sector data from a virtual CD in the same way you read sector data from a CD drive, without creating a CD.

●Write once system

You can burn a CD image tested with Virtual CD to a write-once CD.