CRT Format
The CRT Format is an artificial cartridge format for emulator usage originally introduced by CCS64. It divides cartridges often into CHIP data chunks a C64 or other 8bit Commodore computer usually sees at defined memory areas. The CHIP data chunk size may vary. The CRT format sure is in no way the best format since it does not carry too much information about the cartridge itself, so whenever a new special ROM is found it can usually not easily be emulated by setting some parameters on the .crt file. Such cases will usually require special code just like the cartridge itself likely will require special hardware. The CRT format however holds basic information on the cartridge type, a name whenever it was given during conversion and information on handling the GAME/EXROM lines and how to treat the CHIP packets. It is pretty unknown wether the "special cases" for line and ROM/RAM handling on the CHIP packets has led to better working emulation somewhere. One may want to add that game cartridges are very well emulated in general and handled by the CRT format.
The best and most extensive description for the CRT format can be found in the VICE manual, chapter 17.14 The CRT cartridge image format - the VICE team also took over the task of assigning new CRT IDs.
Weblinks
- CRT.TXT at Peter Schepers' site (with a local copy here.)
- CRT format description at the CCS site - inventor of the CRT format (outdated)
- See the Power64 Documentation at E.11
