The NIRD is a real-time debugger in the form of a cartridge about the size of a DV cart that plugs in the DV slot, with a through connector and cradle so a DV cart can then be plugged in. There's then some PC software that you use when running it.
The NIRD (Non-Intrusive Real-time Debugger ) was used to receive NIRD traces and used the Inquest software to "interrogate" them. Very useful for weird problems!
Paul Clarke, the author of the NIRD, explains: "It samples the address, data and control bus of the CD-I processor as exposed on the expansion port and saves 16384 bus cycles in a round robin format until it spots a bug. You then download up to 16384 cycles before the bug to the PC where I wrote a bus cycle disassembler that shows you what went wrong, even down to C-source level if you like. I got a patent for it - see link here and you can find out more about my current work here
I have a CD-I 220 and CDI 450 and full NIRD in flight case in the loft. It works with all production CD-I players and even has an adaptor for CDI 450 players with their different connector."
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Paul continues: "RamRaid accessed specific CD-Online server which has long since gone so no I don't think we will ever see that site or the maps again. Shame. Game used my own code version of TFTP to download files but don't have docs etc - all long gone. Even my old Philips Research Labs in Horely (named after nearby Redhill town) has been flattened and a new industrial building is now being built there at the moment (I go past it on train every day).
I visited Benny and the team at Dorking Studios to help out with debugging The Seventh Guest but hadn't heard of that bug no. Benny was a cool guy and brought his dog to work with him which was odd in the 90's. Probably would be odd even now but maybe not at a dot com place in LA.
In theory the NIRD I have in my loft could be used today but would need a retro PC running DOS to run the software. When I get hold of it I will post some pictures and maybe a scan of the manual here,and may even donate it to a good CD-I cause one day."
The ADS team paid tribute to the power of N.I.R.D in this touching credit screen from Arcade Classics. The definition of N.I.R.D is Non-Intrusive Real-time Debugger!
I have a CD-I 220 and CDI 450 and full NIRD in flight case in the loft. It works with all production CD-I players and even has an adaptor for CDI 450 players with their different connector."
Paul continues: "RamRaid accessed specific CD-Online server which has long since gone so no I don't think we will ever see that site or the maps again. Shame. Game used my own code version of TFTP to download files but don't have docs etc - all long gone. Even my old Philips Research Labs in Horely (named after nearby Redhill town) has been flattened and a new industrial building is now being built there at the moment (I go past it on train every day).
I visited Benny and the team at Dorking Studios to help out with debugging The Seventh Guest but hadn't heard of that bug no. Benny was a cool guy and brought his dog to work with him which was odd in the 90's. Probably would be odd even now but maybe not at a dot com place in LA.
In theory the NIRD I have in my loft could be used today but would need a retro PC running DOS to run the software. When I get hold of it I will post some pictures and maybe a scan of the manual here,and may even donate it to a good CD-I cause one day."
The ADS team paid tribute to the power of N.I.R.D in this touching credit screen from Arcade Classics. The definition of N.I.R.D is Non-Intrusive Real-time Debugger!
[Thanks, Paul Clarke, the author of the N.I.R.D.]