Hi everyone!
I'm back with another Nintendo Switch homebrew port.
This time it's Golden Balloon NX, a native Nintendo Switch port of Golden Balloon, which is a source port of Diddy Kong Racing based on the community decompilation.
Unlike an emulator, the game code is compiled natively for the Switch's ARM64 CPU. The Switch version uses libnx/devkitA64, SDL2 for input/audio and Mesa/OpenGL for rendering.
The game is currently running very well on real Switch hardware. Gameplay, controller input, audio, saving and Golden Balloon's content pack/mod support are all working.
GitHub:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx
Latest Release:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx/releases/latest
Installation
You will need a legally dumped Diddy Kong Racing US 1.1 ROM.
1. Download goldenballoon.nro from the GitHub release.
2. Create this folder on your SD card:
3. Put the NRO inside that folder.
4. Put your legally dumped Diddy Kong Racing US 1.1 ROM in the same folder and rename it to:
The final folder should look like:
Then just launch Golden Balloon NX from the Homebrew Menu.
Features
• Native ARM64 Nintendo Switch build
• No emulation or dynamic recompilation
• SDL2 controller support
• Mesa/OpenGL rendering
• Working audio
• Switch-specific audio buffering fixes
• Save support
• Golden Balloon content packs / mods support
• Proper Homebrew Menu icon and metadata
• Full source code available on GitHub
About the audio
During the initial port the game was already fully playable, but the audio had some noticeable crackling on Switch.
Golden Balloon normally uses a relatively small desktop-oriented SDL audio period, which didn't behave particularly well with the Switch audio backend.
For the Switch version I added a deeper host-side audio buffer and changed the audio startup so playback only begins after real PCM data has been buffered.
The game's original audio rate, music timing and pitch are unchanged, and audio playback is now stable.
Building
The full source code and Switch build scripts are included in the repository.
You need devkitPro/devkitA64 along with the required Switch SDL2/Mesa packages.
On Windows you can simply run:
The resulting NRO will be generated under:
Credits
Huge thanks to:
• akratch and all Golden Balloon contributors for creating the native Golden Balloon source port.
• DavidSM64 and everyone involved with the Diddy Kong Racing decompilation project.
• chrissotraidis / BarrelPad, which was a very useful ARM64 Golden Balloon reference while working on this port.
• devkitPro, libnx, SDL2 and Mesa contributors for the Switch homebrew toolchain.
• Rare and the original Diddy Kong Racing development team.
Nintendo Switch port / platform adaptation:
Bora Eskicioğlu / BESK Entertainment
Legal
No ROM or copyrighted game assets are included in the repository or release.
You must provide your own legally dumped copy of Diddy Kong Racing.
This is an unofficial fan-made project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Rare or Microsoft.
Piracy is not supported or condoned.
GitHub:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx
Download:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx/releases/latest
Hope you enjoy it!
I'm back with another Nintendo Switch homebrew port.
This time it's Golden Balloon NX, a native Nintendo Switch port of Golden Balloon, which is a source port of Diddy Kong Racing based on the community decompilation.
Unlike an emulator, the game code is compiled natively for the Switch's ARM64 CPU. The Switch version uses libnx/devkitA64, SDL2 for input/audio and Mesa/OpenGL for rendering.
The game is currently running very well on real Switch hardware. Gameplay, controller input, audio, saving and Golden Balloon's content pack/mod support are all working.
GitHub:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx
Latest Release:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx/releases/latest
Installation
You will need a legally dumped Diddy Kong Racing US 1.1 ROM.
1. Download goldenballoon.nro from the GitHub release.
2. Create this folder on your SD card:
Code:
sdmc:/switch/goldenballoon/3. Put the NRO inside that folder.
4. Put your legally dumped Diddy Kong Racing US 1.1 ROM in the same folder and rename it to:
Code:
baserom.us.v80.z64The final folder should look like:
Code:
sdmc:/switch/goldenballoon/
├── goldenballoon.nro
├── baserom.us.v80.z64
├── mdkr64.ini
├── save/
└── mods/Then just launch Golden Balloon NX from the Homebrew Menu.
Features
• Native ARM64 Nintendo Switch build
• No emulation or dynamic recompilation
• SDL2 controller support
• Mesa/OpenGL rendering
• Working audio
• Switch-specific audio buffering fixes
• Save support
• Golden Balloon content packs / mods support
• Proper Homebrew Menu icon and metadata
• Full source code available on GitHub
About the audio
During the initial port the game was already fully playable, but the audio had some noticeable crackling on Switch.
Golden Balloon normally uses a relatively small desktop-oriented SDL audio period, which didn't behave particularly well with the Switch audio backend.
For the Switch version I added a deeper host-side audio buffer and changed the audio startup so playback only begins after real PCM data has been buffered.
The game's original audio rate, music timing and pitch are unchanged, and audio playback is now stable.
Building
The full source code and Switch build scripts are included in the repository.
You need devkitPro/devkitA64 along with the required Switch SDL2/Mesa packages.
On Windows you can simply run:
Code:
BUILD_SWITCH.batThe resulting NRO will be generated under:
Code:
dist-switch/switch/goldenballoon/goldenballoon.nroCredits
Huge thanks to:
• akratch and all Golden Balloon contributors for creating the native Golden Balloon source port.
• DavidSM64 and everyone involved with the Diddy Kong Racing decompilation project.
• chrissotraidis / BarrelPad, which was a very useful ARM64 Golden Balloon reference while working on this port.
• devkitPro, libnx, SDL2 and Mesa contributors for the Switch homebrew toolchain.
• Rare and the original Diddy Kong Racing development team.
Nintendo Switch port / platform adaptation:
Bora Eskicioğlu / BESK Entertainment
Legal
No ROM or copyrighted game assets are included in the repository or release.
You must provide your own legally dumped copy of Diddy Kong Racing.
This is an unofficial fan-made project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Rare or Microsoft.
Piracy is not supported or condoned.
GitHub:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx
Download:
https://github.com/boraeskicioglu/goldenballoon_nx/releases/latest
Hope you enjoy it!
